Dumpster screening requirements and exceptions

Trash and recycling receptacle enclosures are mandatory for all commercial, office, public, and industrial developments, as well as multi-family buildings containing more than four units [Section 18.04.808(c)(1)a, p. 307]. For multi-family facilities with 30 or more units, the code specifically requires the provision of lidded dumpsters [Section 18.03.302(a)(3)a.6[b], p. 161].

Location and Placement Standards

Receptacles must be positioned outside of building setback lines and buffer yards. They are required to be located to the side or rear of the principal building [Section 18.04.808(c)(1)c.1[a], p. 308]. In Urban and Employment districts, these areas should be centralized wherever possible [Section 18.04.1003(a)(8), p. 330; Section 18.04.1103(a)(4), p. 352].

Specific locational restrictions apply to sensitive areas:

• Residential Adjacency: Receptacles must be located a minimum of 25 feet from any residential property line, or as far away as possible if 25 feet is not attainable. These units must be both screened and odor-controlled [Section 18.04.808(c)(1)c.1[b], p. 308]. Service areas containing outdoor garbage or recycling containers are generally prohibited within 25 feet of an adjacent residential district unless no other feasible options exist and the project is designed to mitigate impacts [Section 18.04.1408(b), p. 376].
• Truckee River: For properties along the Truckee River, outdoor trash facilities are strictly prohibited on the river side of the property [Section 18.04.1003(a)(8), p. 330; Section 18.04.1103(a)(4), p. 352].

Capacity and Design

Enclosures must be sized appropriately for the development's needs. If a project generates ten or more yards of trash per pickup cycle, the developer must either expand the size of the enclosure or construct an additional one to accommodate the demand [Section 18.04.808(c)(1)b, p. 308]. Additionally, all new or majorly renovated non-residential developments and apartment/condominium complexes must provide on-site recycling containers [Section 18.04.808(c)(1)c.4, p. 308].

Exceptions and Waivers

The code provides the following exceptions to standard screening and placement:

• Visibility Waiver: The requirement for an enclosure may be waived if the trash receptacle is located interior to the site and is not visible from any public right-of-way or adjacent property [Section 18.04.808(c)(1)c.1[a], p. 308].
• Alley Placement: Receptacles may be located directly on a property line that is adjacent to an alley [Section 18.04.808(c)(1)c.1[a], p. 308].
• Administrative Modification: The Administrator has the authority to modify the required location of a trash receptacle [Section 18.04.808(c)(1)c.1[c], p. 308].
• Temporary Uses: For temporary Christmas tree sale lots in Urban Districts, the requirement is simply to provide a "sufficient" number of refuse receptacles, with the specific site plan subject to Administrator approval to ensure no nuisance is created for the surrounding area [Section 18.03.503(b)(1), p. 220].

Sections Cited

• Section 18.03.302, Residential Uses, p. 161
• Section 18.03.503, Standards for Specific Temporary Uses, p. 220
• Section 18.04.808, Screening, p. 307, 308
• Section 18.04.1003, General Standards for Urban Districts, p. 330
• Section 18.04.1103, General Standards for Employment Districts, p. 352
• Section 18.04.1408, Odor, p. 376