Huntington Beach, CA Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Collector
- City's exclusive contracted refuse hauler only
- Cart size
- 100-gallon residential cart, level full
- Minimum service
- Once weekly under Sec. 8.21.150
- Scavenging
- Banned once set out, Sec. 8.21.220
- Senior discount
- 62+, low income, pay 50% of charge
- Emergency backup haulers
- City Manager permits capped at 30 days
Summary
Huntington Beach Municipal Code Section 8.21.020 makes the City's contracted refuse collector the exclusive hauler of yard waste, defined in Section 8.21.010 as tree trimmings, grass cuttings, leaves, branches and similar non-soil landscape material. Residents on automated collection service must sort yard waste into the assigned residential cart, and the City Council sets collection frequency, service levels and fees by resolution.
"Yard waste" means those constituents of solid waste comprised of non-soil landscape or plant materials such as tree trimmings, grass cuttings, plants, weeds, leaves, branches, trees, or similar materials. ... The collection of refuse, recyclable waste material and yard waste shall be performed exclusively by the City refuse collector. The City Council may regulate, by ordinance or resolution, all aspects of the residential refuse service and the commercial refuse service, including, but not limited to, frequency of collection, means of collection and transportation, level of services, charges, fees, and nature, location, and extent of providing such services.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4954605; v17 updated 2026-06-16).
Full Breakdown
010 defines yard waste as tree trimmings, grass cuttings, plants, weeds, leaves, branches, trees and similar non-soil landscape materials, distinct from bagged household refuse. 090's ban on unauthorized transport for compensation. 020(C) lets the City Manager issue temporary permits, capped at 30 days, to other persons or companies to fill the gap; anything longer needs City Council approval. 020(b), and keep it "level full" with the lid closing completely so no waste is visible. 150 sets the basic level of residential service at not less than once each week, though the Director may exclude hazardous or obnoxious items from that schedule.
030: the standard charge applies to single-family homes and each unit in a duplex, triplex or fourplex, and residents 62 or older whose household income falls at or below the HUD "Very Low Income" guideline pay only half the normal rate. 210, with a hearing and written decision due within 30 days each.
Violations & Fines
Taking yard waste that has already been set out for pickup, other than as the City's contracted collector, violates Section 8.21.220's unauthorized-collection ban. A landscaper or hauler who transports yard waste for compensation without City authorization breaches Section 8.21.090's exclusivity rule. Overflowing or uncovered yard waste piled at the curb outside a proper container can also draw a storage violation under Section 8.21.080, with cleanup costs billed to the property owner under Section 8.21.060.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is allowed to collect yard waste in Huntington Beach?
Do I need to separate yard waste from regular trash?
Can I take my own yard waste to the curb after a private cleanup?
Is there a discount on the yard waste and refuse bill for seniors?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Huntington Beach
California rules heatmap·Compare Huntington Beach to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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Yard Waste Collection in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Orange County handle yard waste collection.