Palm Beach County, FL Trash & Recycling: Dumpster Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential setback
- 25 ft from residential property lines
- Storage pad size
- Minimum 10 ft by 10 ft
- Screening
- Opaque gate, 10-ft clearance when open
- Who must comply
- Non-res. and 16+ unit multifamily projects
- Applies where
- Unincorporated county only, not the 39 cities
Summary
Unincorporated Palm Beach County requires trash and recycling dumpsters to sit in a 10-by-10-foot enclosure, set back at least 25 feet from any residential property line, and screened with an opaque gate and shrubs.
All outdoor receptacles for the storage and disposal of refuse,
vegetation, and recyclable material, such as dumpsters, trash compactors, and recycling containers,
shall meet the following standards:
a. Storage Area A minimum of one refuse container and one recycling container shall be provided for each non-
residential project and Multifamily projects with 16 units or more. All outdoor receptacles shall be
stored in a storage area. Storage areas shall have a minimum dimension of ten feet by ten feet.
[Ord. 2018-002] [Ord. 2021-023]
b. Location Shall be located to minimize turning and back-up movements by pick-up and removal vehicles, and
shall not encroach into easements, landscape buffers, or parking spaces. [Ord. 2018-002] [Ord.
2021-023]
c. Setback 1) Shall comply with Art. 3.E.2.E.2.b, Design when located in a Commercial Pod of a PUD. [Ord.
2018-002] [Ord. 2021-023]
2) Shall be set back a minimum of 25 feet from all property lines adjacent to residential zoning
districts and uses. If adjacent to a non-residential zoning district or use, the landscape buffer
width shall serve as the setback. [Ord. 2018-002] [Ord. 2021-023]
d. Screening Shall be screened from view by a solid opaque enclosure. The open end of the enclosure shall
have an opaque gate which provides a minimum of ten feet of clearance when open for service. All
exposed exterior sides of the enclosure, other than the open end, shall be landscaped with one 36-
Full Breakdown
Palm Beach County's Unified Land Development Code sets standards for every outdoor dumpster, trash compactor, and recycling container in unincorporated areas outside the county's 39 municipalities. Non-residential projects and multifamily developments with 16 or more units must provide at least one refuse and one recycling container in a storage area measuring at least 10 feet by 10 feet. Containers must sit back at least 25 feet from property lines bordering residential zoning districts or uses; next to non-residential land, the required landscape buffer width serves as the setback instead. Every enclosure needs a solid opaque gate with 10 feet of clearance when open, plus shrub screening on the exposed sides.
Violations & Fines
Placing a dumpster without the required 10-by-10 storage pad, 25-foot residential setback, or opaque screening enclosure violates the ULDC and can trigger a code enforcement citation and mandatory retrofit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this dumpster rule apply inside West Palm Beach or Boca Raton?
How close can a dumpster enclosure sit to a house next door?
Do single-family homes need a screened dumpster enclosure?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palm Beach County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Palm Beach County to another location·View the Florida trash & recycling overview
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