Sandoval County, NM Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Yard refuse defined
- Vegetative matter from landscaping/clearing (§ 14-19)
- Burning
- Banned without fire marshal permit (§ 14-25)
- No curbside yard program
- Goes with regular solid waste hauler
- Accumulation ban
- Unlawful to let debris pile up (§ 14-24b)
- Max fine
- $1,000 for illegal dumping (§ 14-20c)
Summary
Sandoval County has no curbside yard waste pickup program; grass clippings, leaves, and brush ('yard refuse' under § 14-19) must go out with regular solid waste or be burned only under a fire marshal permit. Piling yard debris on a lot without disposing of it is an unlawful accumulation under § 14-24.
Yard refuse means vegetative matter resulting from landscaping, land maintenance and land clearing operations. ... No garbage, solid waste, or debris shall be burned within the county. Fire permits may be obtained by the county fire marshal's office for certain types of yard refuse.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 13).
Full Breakdown
' The county does not run a separate yard-waste collection route; the exclusive residential hauler contract under § 14-26 covers general household solid waste on a schedule set by the county manager, and yard refuse that isn't burned has to go out through that same system or be hauled to a county convenience center. Burning is tightly restricted. ' Without that permit, torching brush or clippings is treated the same as illegally burning any other solid waste. ' The county's litter and rubbish definitions at § 14-19 specifically list 'yard clippings' among the materials covered, so dumped yard debris on a street, sidewalk, or vacant lot also violates the antilitter rule at § 14-23.
Violations & Fines
Burning yard refuse without a fire marshal's permit, or letting it accumulate on a lot, is enforced under § 14-20: a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and, for an unauthorized accumulation or dumping violation, a fine of up to $1,000.00, with each day of continuing violation charged separately. The county planning and zoning director, code enforcement officers, and sheriff's deputies all have enforcement authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn leaves or brush in unincorporated Sandoval County?
Does the county pick up yard waste separately from trash?
Is it legal to just pile grass clippings and brush in my yard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sandoval County
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