Sonoma County, CA Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)
Key Facts
- Service
- Weekly mandatory collection
- Placement
- Curb or roadside for single-family
- Waiver term
- 5 years, renewable
- First-offense fine
- $100, rising to $500
- Enforcer
- Transportation and Public Works Dept.
Summary
Unincorporated Sonoma County requires weekly curbside collection of trash, recycling, and organics through the county's franchised hauler for every single-family, multi-family, and commercial property, with narrow waivers available for undeveloped or inaccessible parcels.
Unless exempted pursuant to this section, the owners or occupants of all single-family, multi-family and commercial premises shall subscribe to weekly solid waste, recyclable materials, and organic waste collection services provided by an authorized county franchisee. ... Containers shall be placed at the curb/roadside for collection unless a county franchisee agrees to collect such containers from an alternative location due to the disability of a customer.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 64 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 22-3 makes weekly solid waste, recyclable materials, and organic waste collection mandatory for every single-family, multi-family, and commercial premises in the unincorporated county, provided by the county's authorized franchisee. Owners can apply to the Transportation and Public Works Department for a waiver only if a parcel is undeveloped, road access is unsafe, a residence shares service with a neighbor, or a commercial site lacks room for containers; waivers run five years and are revocable. Sec. 22-5 sets placement: single-family containers go at the curb or roadside for pickup, and cannot otherwise sit in the street right-of-way, while other premises place containers wherever the owner and franchisee agree is accessible.
Violations & Fines
First violations draw a written warning; subsequent violations bring a notice of violation and escalating fines of $100, $200, then $500 per violation, enforced by the Transportation and Public Works Department.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to subscribe to trash pickup in unincorporated Sonoma County?
Where do I put my cart out for pickup?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sonoma County
California rules heatmap·Compare Sonoma County to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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