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Lexington, KY Trash & Recycling: Holiday Pickup Schedule (2026)

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Holiday collection shift
Moves to a makeup day, not skipped
Schedule authority
Commissioner of environmental quality
Downtown holidays observed
Closed only 4 major holidays
Emergency adjustment
Commissioner may shift for weather

Summary

When a regular Lexington-Fayette collection day lands on an urban county government holiday, Code of Ordinances § 16-10(a) shifts pickup to a makeup collection day rather than skipping the week, and the commissioner of environmental quality can also adjust the schedule for emergencies or severe weather.

When a scheduled refuse collection day falls on an urban county government holiday, refuse will be collected on a makeup collection day. The commissioner of environmental quality retains the right to adjust schedules in response to emergencies or severe weather. [...] Garbage and trash collection shall be made during an a.m. cycle between 2:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and a p.m. cycle between 2:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., including Saturdays and holidays, except Christmas, New Year's, Fourth of July and Thanksgiving...

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Republication | Zoning Ordinance: Republication).

Full Breakdown

Section 16-10(a) is the operative rule for residential and standard commercial collection: garbage service normally runs once a week on the same day every week, but when that scheduled day coincides with an urban county government holiday, the section directs that refuse be collected instead on a makeup collection day rather than being skipped until the following week. The section doesn't list the specific makeup day or the holidays observed, those are set administratively by the Division of Waste Management and published on the urban county government's collection calendar, but it does give the commissioner of environmental quality express authority to adjust collection schedules beyond the holiday shift, for example in response to emergencies or severe weather events that make normal routes unsafe.

cycle that runs seven days a week, including most holidays, and is suspended only for Christmas, New Year's, Fourth of July, and Thanksgiving, a narrower list of closures than the standard residential makeup-day rule implies. Residents and businesses outside the downtown area should expect their pickup to move to a makeup day, not disappear, whenever a holiday falls on their regular route day.

Violations & Fines

There's no separate fine tied to the holiday shift itself, it's a scheduling rule, not a placement rule, but once the makeup day is set, the standard section 16-10(b) curb-timing and section 16-10(c) notice-of-violation process still apply to carts left out before or after the makeup collection window.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to my Lexington trash pickup on a holiday?
Section 16-10(a) moves your collection to a makeup day rather than skipping it for the week. LFUCG publishes the specific makeup schedule on its collection calendar.
Does downtown Lexington get holiday trash collection?
Mostly yes. Section 16-13(a) runs downtown garbage collection seven days a week including most holidays, pausing only for Christmas, New Year's, Fourth of July, and Thanksgiving: a shorter list of closures than residential routes typically observe.
Can severe weather delay Lexington trash pickup?
Yes. Section 16-10(a) gives the commissioner of environmental quality authority to adjust collection schedules in response to emergencies or severe weather, separate from the holiday makeup-day rule.

Sources & Official References

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