Tulare County, CA Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)

Ordinance Code § 4-03-1200, in Article 4 governing Use of Collection Service, makes it unlawful for anyone other than a Franchise Hauler, or someone acting with the Franchise Hauler's written authority plus the Solid Waste Director's approval, to: collect, store, transport or dispose of solid waste in a designated Service Area; interfere in any manner with a garbage can or receptacle containing solid waste or its contents; remove a garbage can or receptacle from where the owner placed it, or take its contents; collect solid waste in a Service Area not covered by a Franchise Agreement; or solicit collection business in a Service Area without a Franchise Agreement for it.

Section 4-03-1205 carves out narrow exceptions, including free removal of waste the Franchise Hauler would otherwise charge for, construction/demolition debris haulers, people collecting food waste for animals free of charge, gardeners and tree trimmers handling their own job debris, and commercial recyclers collecting free of charge. Franchise Haulers themselves must run clean, covered, metal-lined collection vehicles marked with the firm's name in letters 4 to 12 inches tall under § 4-03-1225, and must resolve a missed pickup complaint by collecting the missed material the following day under § 4-03-1320.