Madera, CA Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)
Key Facts
- Curb placement
- Travelway side of curb on collection day
- No curb
- Edge of travelway
- Alley option
- Requires City Engineer authorization
- Access rule
- Cannot be blocked by vehicle or obstacle
- Return deadline
- Off curb by midnight, per §5-3.24
Summary
Madera requires collection containers to sit at the curb on the travelway side, at the travelway edge if there is no curb, or in an authorized rear alley on collection day under Municipal Code Section 5-3.23. Containers must stay reachable by the collection vehicle and cannot be blocked by a parked car or other obstacle.
Authorized collection containers shall be placed at the curb of a public street on the travelway side of the curb or the edge of the travelway if no curb is present on the day of collection or the property's rear alley, if existing and authorized by the City Engineer. The containers shall be readily accessible to the collection vehicle and not blocked by any vehicle or other obstacle that would prohibit collection.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2024 S-50: Current through Ordinance 1010 C.S., passed 6-5-24).
Full Breakdown
23, Curb Collection, tells every customer exactly where a container has to sit for pickup to happen: at the curb of a public street on the travelway side, at the edge of the travelway if the street has no curb, or in the property's rear alley if one exists and the City Engineer has authorized alley service there. The section adds a functional standard on top of the location rule: the container must be readily accessible to the collection vehicle, and nothing, including a parked vehicle or other obstacle, may block it.
24's separate requirement that containers be pulled back off the curb and stored between the front yard setback line and the rear yard fence no later than midnight on collection day. Together the two sections define the full pickup cycle: containers move to the curb or authorized alley for collection, then must come back off the public right-of-way the same night.
Violations & Fines
Placement violations fall under Chapter 3's general enforcement scheme in Section 5-3.08, administered by the City Administrator, and are subject to the chapter's Section 5-3.09 penalty framework: fines of up to $500 for a first violation, $750 for a second, and $1,000 for a third or subsequent violation, prosecuted as a misdemeanor rather than an infraction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I have to put my trash cart for pickup in Madera?
Can I park my car in front of my trash cart on collection day in Madera?
Does Madera allow alley pickup for trash carts?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Madera
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