Seattle, WA Trash & Recycling: Dumpster Rules (2026)

Solid waste storage, staging, and collection space is required for new principal structures and for additions or use changes above set square-footage thresholds (subsection A). Location rules in subsection E bar placing storage space between a street-facing facade and the street, in driveways, parking aisles, or parking spaces, or anywhere that blocks fire exits, rights-of-way, or pedestrian and vehicular access; space must also be sited to minimize noise and odor beyond the lot lines. Subsection F requires staging and collection areas for dumpsters to be paved with asphalt or concrete, sets a minimum 14-foot overhead clearance at the collection location, and requires carts to stage within 8 feet of the collection point.

Access requirements in subsection G scale by container size: dumpsters of 2 cubic yards or smaller that are manually moved must stay within 50 feet of the collection location, on paths at least 6 feet wide with no more than a 6 percent grade, through doors at least 6 feet wide, with 12-foot-wide gates for collection vehicles. Larger containers and front-load dumpsters need direct vehicle access at the collection location, a maximum 2 percent slope, and 24-foot overhead clearance. 3: 12-foot gates, direct collection-vehicle access, and overhead clearance of 14 feet for a low-profile roll-off, 16 feet for a standard-height roll-off, and 18 feet if the container isn't kept on a loading dock.

Subsection I lets the Director of Transportation approve a 5-foot-wide street access ramp for solid waste containers under specific conditions, and subsection J allows the Director, after consulting Seattle Public Utilities, to approve alternative arrangements when the standard layout can't be met on a given lot.