Franklin, TN Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Bag limit
- 33-gallon biodegradable paper bags
- Brush length limit
- 10 ft / 18 in diameter
- Oversize limb rule
- 6 ft, under 75 lbs, if 15in+ diameter
- Curbside clearance
- 3 feet from obstacles
- Power-line exclusion
- Not collected under overhead lines
- Contractor duty
- Nurserymen/lawn crews haul their own debris
Summary
Franklin will not shovel up loose leaves or clippings: yard waste has to go into biodegradable paper bags of no more than 33 gallons. Brush and limbs must be cut to 10 feet or 18 inches in diameter (thicker limbs to 6 feet and under 75 pounds), piled curbside three feet clear of obstacles, and never left under overhead power lines.
(1)Leaves, lawn clippings, etc.(a)It shall not be the responsibility of the department of the city to shovel or pick up from the ground any loose accumulation of MSW, including leaves, lawn clippings, brush, etc. All yard waste must be placed in biodegradable paper bags of not more than 33-gallon capacity.(b)The city shall not be responsible to remove any brush or limbs of trees unless said brush and limbs have been cut into lengths of not more than ten feet or 18 inches in diameter. Limbs of trees measuring 15 inches or more in diameter shall be cut into lengths of not more than six feet and weigh less than 75 pounds. Such material shall be piled at curbside in an area at least three feet away from obstacles, including mailboxes and utility boxes. Brush and limbs placed under overhead lines will not be collected. There shall be no MSW mixed with yard waste, bulky waste or brush left at curbside for collection.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 30 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
," and requires all yard waste to be placed in biodegradable paper bags of no more than 33-gallon capacity. Subsection (1)(b) governs brush and limbs: the city has no duty to remove them unless cut into lengths of ten feet or less and no more than 18 inches in diameter; limbs 15 inches or more in diameter must instead be cut to six-foot lengths and weigh under 75 pounds each. Cut material must be piled at curbside at least three feet away from obstacles such as mailboxes and utility boxes, and anything placed under overhead power lines will not be collected.
The section also bars mixing regular MSW into a yard-waste or brush pile left at curbside for pickup. A companion duty in § 17-109 shifts responsibility onto commercial yard crews: any nurseryman, lawn service, or other contractor who cuts trees or trims shrubs or grass must remove and dispose of all yard waste generated from the premises it services, rather than leaving it for city pickup.
Violations & Fines
Enforcement runs through § 17-116, the chapter's general penalty section: the city serves written notice of the violation and allows up to ten days for correction, with service withheld until it is fixed. Continuing the violation past that ten-day window is a misdemeanor under the general penalty clause, and the violator is liable to the city for any expense, loss, or damage its personnel or equipment incur because of the noncompliant pile or debris.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I leave loose leaves at the curb in Franklin?
How big can tree limbs be for city pickup?
Will the city collect brush piled under power lines?
Does my lawn service have to haul away the clippings?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Franklin
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