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Trash and recycling carts in Signal Hill

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

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

What Signal Hill's code says

Signal Hill code What Signal Hill's code adds
Required collection service
  • You must subscribe to refuse collection service with the city or its contractor.
    § 8.08.050 · code text
    the owner of each single-family dwelling unit, multi-family dwelling unit, commercial unit and industrial unit where municipal solid waste is produced shall subscribe to refuse collection service with the city or its contractor.
  • May be exempted from mandatory service until the premises become occupied.
    Applies: Premises with no human habitation and no refuse produced or accumulated for 3 consecutive months, with an approved application.
    § 8.08.050 · code text
    Premises which have been unoccupied by any human habitation and upon which no refuse has been produced or accumulated for three consecutive months may be exempted from mandatory service until such premises become occupied
Sorting organics and green waste
  • Cut in lengths small enough to fit the customer's regular household refuse container or dumpster.
    Applies: Unless diverted from disposal through a duly adopted composting program.
    § 8.08.050 · code text
    branches of trees, hedges, grass and hedge clippings and other green waste shall be cut in lengths small enough for ease of disposal in the customer's regular household refuse container or dumpster.
When carts must come back
  • Containers must be returned to an out-of-view location by eight p.m. the day collection is made
    § 8.08.050 · code text
    Household refuse containers shall not be set out for collection any earlier than seven p.m. on the day before the scheduled collection pickup and must be returned to an out-of-view location by eight p.m. the day the collection is made.
When carts may go to the curb
  • Not before seven p.m. on the day before the scheduled collection pickup
    § 8.08.050 · code text
    Household refuse containers shall not be set out for collection any earlier than seven p.m. on the day before the scheduled collection pickup and must be returned to an out-of-view location by eight p.m. the day the collection is made.
Where carts are kept
  • Keep containers in an out-of-view location.
    Applies: When household refuse containers are not placed for collection.
    § 8.08.050 · code text
    When household refuse containers are not placed for collection, they shall be stored so as to not be visible from any public street or right-of-way.
  • Keep containers out of view from any public street or right-of-way.
    Applies: Recyclable materials limited to cans, bottles and cardboard.
    § 8.08.050 · code text
    Such recyclable materials must be held in a leak-proof rubbish can or container stored out-of-view from any public street or right-of-way

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

When can trash carts go out to the curb in Signal Hill?

Signal Hill's code: You must subscribe to refuse collection service with the city or its contractor. (§ 8.08.050); May be exempted from mandatory service until the premises become occupied. (Premises with no human habitation and no refuse produced or accumulated for 3 consecutive months, with an approved application.) (§ 8.08.050).

General information, not legal advice.

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