Virginia Beach, VA Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Limb length limit
- 4 feet
- Stack size limit
- 4 x 4 x 4 feet
- Max diameter
- 6 inches
- Piles per week
- One per residence
- Owner penalty
- $100/day after notice
Summary
Virginia Beach caps yard debris piles at 4x4x4 feet, limbs at 4 feet long, one pile per week, curbside for city pickup.
All limbs, branches, shrubbery and hedge trimmings generated from normal pruning to be collected by the city shall be cut into lengths not to exceed four (4) feet and shall be stacked neatly by the curbline for collection. Stacks shall not exceed four by four by four (4 × 4 × 4) feet, shall contain no material greater than six
(6) inches in diameter, and shall contain no debris generated as a result of tree removal activity. No more than one (1) pile per week per residence shall be collected. If such material is not prepared for collection as herein required, its disposal shall be the responsibility of the owner or occupant of the premises.
(c) Violations. Except as provided in section 31-35 or as allowed by the city manager in cases of declared emergency, any property owner, tenant or occupant who places, or causes to be placed, any debris generated by tree removal activity on any public street, alley or right-of-way, including the area between the paved portion thereof and abutting property line, and who fails to remove such debris within the time prescribed in the notice issued pursuant to section 31-3.1 of this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each day that the violation continues after the date specified in the notice.
(d) Summons; procedure. In the event of a violation of any of the provisions of this section, the owner, tenant or occupant of the subject property shall be notified of such violation in
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 170 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 31-33 requires limbs, branches, shrubbery and hedge trimmings from normal pruning to be cut to no more than 4 feet long and stacked neatly at the curbline in stacks no larger than 4 by 4 by 4 feet, with no piece over 6 inches in diameter. Only one pile per week per residence is collected. Debris from tree removal (as opposed to normal pruning) is not covered by curbside collection at all. Residents can also rent a city yard waste container under § 31-35 for tree limbs, leaves, shrubbery, grass trimmings and yard debris, but not stumps, construction materials or other bulky items.
Violations & Fines
Tree-removal debris left in the street or right-of-way after a notice period draws a $100/day civil penalty against the property owner or occupant; tree removal contractors face $500 for the initial violation and each day it continues (§ 31-33(c),(e)).
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the city pick up debris from removing a whole tree?
Can I put out more than one brush pile a week?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Virginia Beach
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