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Sonoma County · Building on your lot

Trash and recycling carts in Sonoma County

Sonoma County'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 Sonoma County Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Sonoma County's code says

Sonoma County code What Sonoma County's code adds
Required collection service
  • You must subscribe to weekly solid waste, recyclable materials and organic waste collection services.
    § 22-3 · code text
    Unless exempted pursuant to this section, the owners or occupants of all single-family, multi-family and commercial premises shall subscribe to weekly solid waste, recyclable materials, and organic waste collection services provided by an authorized county franchisee.
  • May be exempt from mandatory service upon approval.
    Applies: Premises are presently undeveloped and generate no discarded solid waste or organic waste.
    § 22-3 · code text
    The premises are presently undeveloped, such that no discarded solid waste or organic waste is generated thereon;
  • May be exempt from mandatory service upon approval.
    Applies: Premises are inaccessible due to unsafe, severely impractical or impossible road access.
    § 22-3 · code text
    The premises is inaccessible due to road conditions that render access to the premises by franchisee-provided trucks unsafe, severely impractical, or impossible, in the judgment of both county and franchisee;
  • May be exempt from mandatory service upon approval.
    Applies: Residential premises shares service with a neighboring residential premises with sufficient container size and county and franchisee approval.
    § 22-3 · code text
    The residential premises shares service with a neighboring residential premises with sufficient container size to accommodate the waste of two (2) households, and the shared service arrangement is approved by both county and its franchisee;

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

When can trash carts go out to the curb in Sonoma County?

Sonoma County's code: You must subscribe to weekly solid waste, recyclable materials and organic waste collection services. (§ 22-3); May be exempt from mandatory service upon approval. (Premises are presently undeveloped and generate no discarded solid waste or organic waste.) (§ 22-3).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Sonoma County property

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

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Sonoma County Municipal Code — full text