Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Okaloosa County, FL Trash & Recycling: Holiday Pickup Schedule (2026)

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

Key Facts

Recognized holidays
New Year's, Thanksgiving, Christmas
Solid waste/yard trash
shifts to next regular day
Recyclables
collected one day later that week
Notice required
2 weeks before the holiday
Governing law
County Code § 11-194

Summary

Okaloosa County's waste franchisee skips collection only on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day under County Code § 11-194. When a regular route falls on one of those three holidays, solid waste and yard trash simply shift to the next regular collection day, while recyclables move one day later for the rest of that week.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Okaloosa County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Sec. 11-194. - Days of operation. The franchisee will not provide collection service on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. If the regular collection day for any solid waste or yard trash route(s) falls on any of the aforementioned holidays, the franchisee shall collect such waste and recyclables as follows: (1)Solid waste and yard trash: Collection shall be provided on the next regular collection day.(2)Recyclables: Collection services shall be one day after the normally scheduled collection day for the remainder of the week. The franchisee shall notify all affected customers of the holiday schedule at least two weeks prior to the holiday.

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: Supplement 23).

Full Breakdown

Section 11-194 recognizes just three no-service holidays for the county's residential franchisee: New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. Other holidays such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day aren't named in the section, so they don't trigger a schedule shift. When a regular solid waste or yard trash route falls on one of the three named holidays, the franchisee must collect on the next regular collection day instead. Recyclables follow a different rule: collection shifts one day later than the normal schedule for the remainder of that week, rather than simply moving to the next route day.

The franchisee is required to notify all affected customers of the holiday schedule at least two weeks before the holiday itself, giving households time to plan around the shift. , Monday through Saturday, and bars collection on Sundays or holidays except in a county-approved emergency, explaining why the three recognized holidays need their own rescheduling rule rather than simply being skipped without a make-up day.

Violations & Fines

Section 11-194 doesn't set a fine for a late or missing holiday notice; the remedy is the two-week advance-notice requirement itself. Article IV violations more broadly, including a franchisee's failure to meet its scheduling obligations, are treated as civil infractions under Section 11-186 that code enforcement can pursue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which holidays does Okaloosa County skip trash pickup for?
Only three: New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day, per County Code § 11-194. Collection continues as normal on other holidays like Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day, since the ordinance names just those three dates as no-service days for the franchised hauler.
What happens to my pickup day when a holiday falls on it?
If your regular solid waste or yard trash day lands on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, Section 11-194 pushes that pickup to your next regular collection day. Recyclables shift differently: they're collected one day later than normal for the rest of that week, not simply on the next cycle.
How will I know about the holiday schedule change?
The franchisee is required by Section 11-194 to notify all affected customers of the holiday collection schedule at least two weeks before the holiday, giving households time to adjust their cart set-out day before the shift takes effect.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Okaloosa County

All Okaloosa County rules

Florida rules heatmap·Compare Okaloosa County to another location·View the Florida trash & recycling overview

Get notified when Holiday Pickup Schedule in Okaloosa County, FL changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.