Containers and commercial solid waste container regulations.

Tampa City Code § 26-166

in effect

Sec. 26-166. - Containers and commercial solid waste container regulations. (a) The Department will provide one (1) ninety-five-gallon solid waste and one (1) ninety-five-gallon recycling cart. Residential collection fees include one (1) solid waste and one (1) recycling cart only to the owner or occupant of every residence or commercial establishment. Additional charges shall be assessed if additional carts are requested. Only city provided carts will receive collection service. The owner or occupant shall maintain the containers or refuse bins and the area of their location in a clean and sanitary condition. Solid waste and recycling carts are assigned to a location and shall not be removed from that location by anyone other than the Department. (b) Requirements for loss or damage to city container: (1) Customer must notify the city within seventy-two (72) hours if the customer's container is stolen, lost, or damaged beyond repair. (2) Loss or damage caused by customer negligence—Customer shall reimburse the city for the cost of repairing or replacing the container, including the cost of delivering a repaired or replaced container. The container replacement, repair and/or delivery costs incurred by the city shall be charged to the customer on the next month's utility bill, to the extent to required to recover the city's costs. (c) Any privately owned container or refuse bin which is in disrepair may be condemned and a notice of violation will be placed on the condemned container by Department employees. Any containers so marked must be removed within seventy-two (72) hours after the Notice of Violation is issued and replaced by the owner or occupant with acceptable containers as specified herein. (1) If customer fails to comply, Department may remove the container and take it to an appropriate site for impoundment. (2) City can remove a container when the container is: a. A danger or nuisance to the public; b. Placed on city property or public right-of-way without a permit; c. The Department shall make a good faith effort to notify the owner of the container that it is in the city's possession. The owner is responsible for the city's costs for transporting and storing the container. If the owner fails to claim the container within one hundred twenty (120) days after container is impounded, the city may use, sell or otherwise dispose of the container. (d) For apartments with four (4) or more units and for certain other commercial customers, service will be rendered by refuse bins if feasible or by bulk service if bins are not feasible at the determination of the director. (e) No service shall be given to any residential or commercial premises permitting persons, objects, obstructions or vehicles to hinder in any way whatsoever the servicing of the container or refuse bin by Department vehicles and personnel. If service is obstructed and the customer requests a return trip, then a separate charge will be made as set forth in the resolution of the city council setting the amount of the charges. (f) Any solid waste which, by reason of its bulk or shape, cannot be placed within a container shall be tied in a bundle not to exceed four (4) feet in length or fifty (50) pounds in weight and placed at curbside for collection. If the solid waste is of such a nature that it cannot be tied or bundled, it may be placed out for collection upon request to the Department. Such solid waste will be collected at a time specified by the Department and a charge per cubic yard of solid waste collected, will be imposed. The minimum charge for such solid waste collection is no less than that charged for one (1) cubic yard. (g) A refuse bin for two (2) business establishments wishing to share a refuse bin for their mutual service shall be authorized only if the premises are adjacent to or directly behind each other and a written request from the owner, occupant or tenant in whose name the city utility account appears is submitted to the Department. (h) All permanent open-top containers must be enclosed to prevent any materials from being windblown. (i) Open-top containers shall not be used to contain putrescible solid waste. (j) All new establishments requesting refuse bin service must provide an aesthetically pleasing enclosure and suitable slab for the bin. (k) All refuse bins must have lid covers in good working condition, and the cover, lid and side doors must be closed at all times to prevent spillage. (l) Spillage from improper containers or refuse bins will not be picked up by the Department. (m) For collection of commercial waste in the Downtown Core Business District, including the use of Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) bags, only solid waste placed in city-issued containers or PAYT bags will be collected. (Ord. No. 89-253, § 2(58-171), 9-28-89; Ord. No. 2022-4, § 2, 1-13-2022)

Source: City of Tampa, Code of Ordinances and Charter and Related Laws (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/fl/tampa/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH26UT_ARTIVSOWA_S26-166COCOSOWACOREFetched: 10/28/2026