St. Petersburg, FL Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)
Key Facts
- Earliest curbside set-out
- 7:00 p.m. night before collection
- Must be out by
- 7:00 a.m. on collection day
- Must be pulled back by
- 7:00 p.m. collection day (or once emptied)
- Max distance from curb
- 2 feet, handle away from street
- Max distance in alley
- 3 feet from right-of-way
- Backyard-service limit
- Within 80 feet of street right-of-way
Summary
St. Petersburg limits when and where bulk garbage and recycling containers can sit at the curb: out no earlier than 7:00 p.m. the night before collection, back off the curb by 7:00 p.m. collection day, and placed no more than two feet from the curb under City Code §§ 27-533 and 27-539.
(a) Prohibited hours. Approved bulk garbage or bulk recycling containers placed near the curb or alley must be placed there no earlier than 7:00 p.m. of the evening preceding the collection day and must be removed to a point at the side or rear of the structure not later than the later of 7:00 p.m. of the day of collection or when the container has been emptied. (b) Collection time. All approved bulk garbage or bulk recycling containers that must be placed near the curb or alley for collection must be so placed prior to 7:00 a.m. on the day of collection. If the container is not so placed by 7:00 a.m., it will not be collected after the truck has completed that area. ... Bulk garbage containers must be placed at the curb in front of property in such manner as not to obstruct pedestrian passage and no further away from the curb than two feet with the container handle away from the street, or if service in an alley is provided, not more than three feet from the alley right-of-way.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 54).
Full Breakdown
on collection day or whenever the truck actually empties it. on collection day, miss that cutoff and the truck will not come back for it after finishing the route in that area. Section 27-539 governs positioning: curbside containers must sit no more than two feet from the curb with the handle facing away from the street, so they don't block the sidewalk, while alley service allows up to three feet from the alley right-of-way; the POD locates alley containers and residents may not relocate them without permission.
Backyard-service containers must stay within 80 feet of the street right-of-way and cannot be enclosed by a fence, wall, or sunken pit without POD approval. Only City-furnished bulk containers may be used absent POD authorization (§ 27-535), items must be drained of liquids and wet garbage wrapped in paper before disposal (§ 27-501), and only specified materials belong in bulk recycling containers, aluminum, tin and steel cans, cardboard, glass, plastics 1-7, and paper products, with Styrofoam and plastic bags barred (§ 27-540). Containers must stay tightly covered at all times except when depositing or removing material (§ 27-538) and may not be stored on property the depositor doesn't own or occupy (§ 27-539(c)).
Violations & Fines
Any violation of these Article V container rules carries a $500 fine per incident under § 27-498, enforced through Code Enforcement prosecution under § 1-7. Garden trash or garbage set out anywhere other than an approved bulk container, or left on the property or right-of-way outside a container, will be removed by the POD with the special services charge billed to the owner or occupant under § 27-500(d), and repeated misuse can trigger repair or replacement charges to the user under § 27-536(b).
Frequently Asked Questions
What time can I put my trash and recycling bins out in St. Petersburg?
How close to the curb does my container need to be?
When do I need to bring my empty container back in?
What can I put in the recycling bin?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Petersburg
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