Boca Raton, FL Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)
Key Facts
- Earliest set-out
- 7:00 p.m. night before collection
- Latest set-out
- 7:00 a.m. on collection day
- Removal deadline
- Within 12 hrs after pickup
- Garage/carport storage
- Not allowed for set-out
- Applies to
- Single-family and 2-family dwellings
Summary
Boca Raton limits when single-family and duplex households can put solid waste containers at the curb: no earlier than 7 p.m. the night before pickup, removed within 12 hours after collection, under Section 14-8.
(a)Garbage and household waste shall be free of all liquids and shall be containerized prior to being placed in a container for collection.(b)All solid waste containers shall be grouped together, and shall not be placed for collection from within carports, garages, or any other enclosures.(c)Solid waste containers shall not be placed in the swale for collection earlier than 7:00 p.m. on the day prior to the scheduled collection day or later than 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day, and all containers shall be removed from this area within 12 hours following collection.(d)No vegetative waste larger than 4 inches or 10 centimeters in diameter or longer than 5 feet or 1.5 meters, or heavier than 50 pounds or 22.5 kilograms, shall be placed for collection by the city.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Section 14-8 sets four precollection rules specific to single-family and 2-family dwellings. Garbage and household waste must be free of liquids and containerized before being placed for collection under subsection (a). All solid waste containers must be grouped together and cannot be placed for collection from inside a carport, garage, or other enclosure under subsection (b). on the collection day itself, and every container must come back off the swale within 12 hours after collection. Subsection (d) caps vegetative waste the city will take at 4 inches in diameter, 5 feet in length, and 50 pounds.
, and prohibits leaving containers or loose waste in the right-of-way outside the scheduled window. Section 14-7(5) additionally requires containers, once placed curbside, to sit at ground level outside the paved roadway and stay immediately accessible to collection crews.
Violations & Fines
Putting a container out before 7:00 p.m. the night before, or leaving it at the curb more than 12 hours after pickup, violates Section 14-8(c). Placing waste inside a garage or carport for pickup, or leaving loose waste in the right-of-way, violates Sections 14-8(b) and 14-7. No dedicated fine attaches, so the Code's general penalty in Section 1-16 governs: up to $500.00, up to 60 days imprisonment, or both, with each day a separate offense; the city can also refuse further collection for non-conforming containers under Section 14-6(11).
Frequently Asked Questions
How early can I put my trash cans out in Boca Raton?
How soon do I need to bring my cans back in after pickup?
Can I leave my trash cans in the garage for the city to grab?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Boca Raton
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