Port St. Lucie, FL Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Weekly volume limit
- 4 cubic yards per household
- Branch length limit
- 4 feet (palm fronds exempt)
- Branch diameter/weight
- 6 inches / 50 lbs max
- Loose debris weight
- 50 lbs per bag or can
- First offense penalty
- $110 (Sec. 80.17(d))
Summary
Port St. Lucie limits curbside yard waste to 4 cubic yards per household per week under Section 80.06(e) of the Code of Ordinances. Branches and stumps must be cut to 4 feet or less and no more than 6 inches thick or 50 pounds, while loose leaves and clippings go in cans or bags capped at 50 pounds each.
(e)Yard waste.(1)Yard waste shall only be set out at curbside once each week per the franchise agreement, limited to four (4) cubic yards per week per household, except on holidays and as otherwise deemed necessary by the director.(2)Yard waste shall be of such size that it can be readily loaded by one person. Stumps, trees, limbs, and other larger pieces of yard waste shall be cut in lengths of no greater than 4 feet (except palm fronds) and shall not exceed 6 inches in diameter or 50 lbs in weight. Yard waste shall be stacked neatly in a pile at curbside and may be tied in a bundle with twine or rope.(3)Leaves, twigs, grass clippings, and other small pieces of yard waste shall be placed in garbage cans or biodegradable bags, limited to no more than 50 lbs. per container.(4)All yard waste generated by a commercial lawn care company, plant nursery, commercial tree trimming and removal company shall be hauled away by the contractor or person generating the waste.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 103).
Full Breakdown
06(e) governs residential yard waste at curbside. " Palm fronds are exempted from the 4-foot length cap because of their size, but every other category of woody yard waste is not. Commercial yard maintenance operations do not get city pickup at all: paragraph (4) requires that "All yard waste generated by a commercial lawn care company, plant nursery, commercial tree trimming and removal company shall be hauled away by the contractor or person generating the waste," so landscapers cannot leave clippings at a customer's curb for the franchise hauler.
02 as vegetative matter from yard and landscaping maintenance, including shrub and tree trimmings, grass clippings, palm fronds, and branches, but excludes land clearing debris.
Violations & Fines
Yard waste violations fall under the same bulk, yard, solid waste penalty tier as bulk waste: a $110 fine for a first offense and $220 for a second under Section 80.17(d), with 48 hours to correct the violation under Section 80.17(b)(5)ii. Piling more than 4 cubic yards at the curb, exceeding the size or weight limits, or leaving a landscaper's clippings for city pickup can each trigger a citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much yard waste can I put out each week in Port St. Lucie?
How do I cut branches for yard waste pickup?
Can my landscaper leave clippings at my curb for the city to collect?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Port St. Lucie
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Port St. Lucie to another location·View the Florida trash & recycling overview
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