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Fresno County, CA Trash & Recycling: Mandatory Organics Recycling (2026)

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

Key Facts

Adopting ordinance
Ord. No. 22-007 (6-7-2022)
First violation penalty
$50-$100
Third+ violation penalty
$250-$500
Compliance deadline
60 days after Notice of Violation
Civil penalties began
January 1, 2024

Summary

Fresno County requires every single-family household, multi-family property and business in the unincorporated area to subscribe to organic waste collection and keep food scraps and yard trimmings separated from trash, under Chapter 8.27, the county's SB 1383 implementing ordinance adopted by Ordinance No. 22-007 in 2022.

City-specific rules exist: Fresno, and Clovis have their own mandatory organics recycling rules that differ from Fresno County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

Single-Family Generators may subscribe to the County's Organic Waste collection services program, as provided for through contractual agreement between County and its designated Exclusive Service Area Program (ESAP) providers and this Ordinance Code's Chapter 8.21, for all Organic Waste generated as described within this Chapter. ... a.For a first violation, the amount of the base penalty shall be fifty dollars to one hundred dollars per violation.b.For a second violation, the amount of the base penalty shall be one hundred dollars to two hundred dollars per violation.c.For a third or subsequent violation, the amount of the base penalty shall be two hundred fifty dollars to five hundred dollars per violation.

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 51).

Full Breakdown

120. 045 and cannot place contaminants in containers designated for Organic Waste or Recyclable Materials. 100 add edible-food recovery requirements for larger commercial food generators and require food recovery organizations to accept the recovered food. 130, though the code specifically bars entering the interior of a private residence for inspection. 13. 2, run $50 to $100 for a first violation, $100 to $200 for a second, and $250 to $500 for a third or later violation, with the exact amount within each range based on factors like willfulness and ability to pay.

Civil penalties under this chapter did not begin until January 1, 2024; before that date the county limited itself to education and outreach on the new organics-separation requirements.

Violations & Fines

Missing the 60-day compliance deadline in a Notice of Violation exposes a household, property owner or business to an administrative citation under Chapter 1.13, with base penalties of $50 to $100 for a first violation, $100 to $200 for a second, and $250 to $500 for a third or later violation under Section 8.27.140(D). Repeated contamination can also trigger special service rate charges billed directly on the monthly invoice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to separate food scraps from trash in unincorporated Fresno County?
Yes. Section 8.27.050(A) requires Single-Family Premises to subscribe to the county's Organic Waste collection program and source-separate organic material, which includes food scraps along with yard trimmings, under Section 8.27.045. Contaminating a recycling or organics container with the wrong material is itself a violation under Section 8.27.050(A)(3).
What is the fine for not separating organic waste in Fresno County?
Section 8.27.140(D) sets base penalties of $50 to $100 for a first violation, $100 to $200 for a second, and $250 to $500 for a third or later violation, following 14 CCR Section 18997.2. The county must first issue a Notice of Violation giving 60 days to fix the problem before any fine is assessed.
Can I be exempt from Fresno County's organic waste program?
Section 8.27.120 allows a Self-Hauler exemption if the generator source-separates its own recyclable and organic materials and transports them itself, and Section 8.27.080 lets the county apply for CalRecycle low-population waivers on behalf of eligible census tracts. Otherwise, single-family, multi-family and commercial generators must subscribe to collection under Section 8.27.050.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Fresno County

Collection ScheduleSignificant RestrictionsBulk Item DisposalSome RestrictionsRecycling RulesSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Quiet HoursSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome RestrictionsDumpster RulesSome RestrictionsRecycling RequirementsSome RestrictionsPickup Rules & SchedulesSome RestrictionsYard Waste CollectionSome RestrictionsIllegal DumpingHeavy RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Towing & Impound RightsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions

All Fresno County rules

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