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Trash and recycling carts in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara's own rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text for every value.

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Each rule below links to the section of the Santa Barbara Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Santa Barbara's code says

Santa Barbara code What Santa Barbara's code adds
Required collection service
  • Must subscribe to and maintain adequate collection service by a franchised waste hauler
    Applies: Owner of an occupied parcel; minimum 1 pickup per week
    § 7.16.030 · code text
    The owner of an occupied parcel or business premises, or parcel on which solid waste, organic waste, or recyclable materials is created, accumulated, or generated shall subscribe to and maintain adequate collection service by a franchised waste hauler.
Sorting organics and green waste
  • Place green-container organic waste, except food waste, in green; recyclables in blue; mixed waste, including food waste, in brown
    Applies: Single-family waste generators
    § 7.16.060 · code text
    Single-family waste generators shall place source separated green container organic waste, except food waste, in the green container; source separated recyclable materials in the blue container; and mixed waste, including food waste, in the brown container.
  • May manage organic waste on site, including composting on site or at a community composting site
    Applies: Single-family waste generators
    § 7.16.060 · code text
    Single-family waste generators may also manage their organic waste by preventing, reducing, or managing organic waste on site, including composting on site or at a community composting site pursuant to California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 18984.9(c).
When carts must come back
  • Within 12 hours after collection
    § 7.16.040 · code text
    Containers must be relocated to a lawful storage location on the parcel within 12 hours after collection.
When carts may go to the curb
  • No sooner than 24 hours before the normal collection time
    Applies: Not for parcels served by commercial bins
    § 7.16.040 · code text
    The owner or occupant of a parcel is responsible for placing collection containers provided by the franchise waste hauler at the curb or in the parkway no sooner than 24 hours prior to the normal collection time established according to the schedule set by the franchise waste hauler.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

When can trash carts go out to the curb in Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara's code: Must subscribe to and maintain adequate collection service by a franchised waste hauler (Owner of an occupied parcel; minimum 1 pickup per week) (§ 7.16.030); Place green-container organic waste, except food waste, in green; recyclables in blue; mixed waste, including food waste, in brown (Single-family waste generators) (§ 7.16.060).

General information, not legal advice.

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Ask GoCodebook how Santa Barbara's trash and recycling carts rules apply to your situation and get an answer that cites the section.

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Santa Barbara Municipal Code — full text