Rochester Hills, MI Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)
Key Facts
- Max curb standing time
- 24 hours
- Notice trigger if unremoved
- 72 hours
- Notice given
- 24-hour posted notice
- Container weight limit
- 50 lbs unless wheeled
- Storage when not in use
- side or rear yard
- Enforcing agency
- City Building Department
Summary
Rochester Hills limits how long trash, recycling and yard-waste containers can sit at the curb under Property Maintenance Code Section 308.1.2: refuse cannot stand for collection more than 24 hours, and if it is not removed within 72 hours the city posts a 24-hour notice before hauling it away at the owner's expense. Recycling containers and yard clippings follow the same 24-hour removal window.
Containers standing for collection. Under this section, refuse, including garbage, may be deposited at the place for collection in plastic bags, disposable cartons, or metal or plastic containers, but shall not be left standing in the location for more than 24 hours. If after 72 hours the refuse is not removed, the city shall place a 24-hour notice on the premises advising of the violation. If after the issuance of the 24-hour notice, the refuse standing at the roadside has not been removed the city may cause the refuse to be removed at the owner's expense. Recycling containers and yard clippings shall be placed on collection day at the street or authorized location, but shall not be left in the location for more than 24 hours.
Full Breakdown
Section 308.1.2 of the Property Maintenance Code governs how long containers can stand at the curb for collection in Rochester Hills. Refuse, including garbage, may be set out in plastic bags, disposable cartons, or metal or plastic containers, but it cannot be left standing at the collection location for more than 24 hours. If the refuse still has not been removed after 72 hours, the city places a 24-hour notice on the premises warning of the violation, and if the refuse is still there after that notice period, the city may remove it itself and charge the cost to the owner.
Recycling containers and yard clippings are held to the same 24-hour standard: they must go out on collection day and cannot sit at the street or the authorized collection spot for more than 24 hours. A related rule at Section 308.1.1 governs the containers themselves rather than timing: containers must be rodent-proof and watertight, hold no more than 50 pounds unless they are wheeled and compatible with the hauler's equipment, have tight covers in place except while garbage is being deposited or removed, stay clean and sanitary, and be stored in the side or rear yard when not in use.
Together the two sections mean a household's cans cannot sit at the curb before or after pickup day for more than the specified windows, and cannot simply be left in the front yard between collections.
Violations & Fines
Leaving refuse, recycling or yard-waste containers at the curb longer than the 24-hour windows in Section 308.1.2, or beyond the 72-hour mark before the city's notice, is a Property Maintenance Code violation the Building Department's code official can cite as a municipal civil infraction. The city can also remove refuse left past the notice period itself and bill the owner for the cost of that removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can my trash cans sit at the curb in Rochester Hills?
What happens if my trash isn't picked up and sits out?
What are the rules for the trash containers themselves, not just timing?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rochester Hills
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