Okaloosa County, FL Trash & Recycling: Holiday Pickup Schedule (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.
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.
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?
What happens to my pickup day when a holiday falls on it?
How will I know about the holiday schedule change?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Okaloosa County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Okaloosa County to another location·View the Florida trash & recycling overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.