Storage of Waste Containers Ordinance

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The Minnetonka City Council added language to its ordinance at its June 3, 2024 meeting.

The city council added language at its June 3, 2024, meeting allowing containers to be placed in public view the evening before pickup. The previous ordinance only allowed an exception for the day of collection.


The City of Minnetonka is proposing a city ordinance that provides more options for property owners for placement of their waste containers.

The amended ordinance would give property owners more options to store their waste containers on non-collection days. As garbage collection has evolved and recycling/organics has been added, finding locations to store receptacles can be challenging. The proposed ordinance would no longer require containers be "out of public view" but rather ensure waste containers are "not visible from adjacent streets or properties or, at a minimum, located behind the front building line of the home."

Allowed under proposed ordinance 
NOT allowed under proposed ordinance

Prior to drafting a final ordinance for the city council, the city is open to community feedback and information regarding the proposed ordinance. You can share your feedback and ask questions in the spaces provided below.

The city council added language at its June 3, 2024, meeting allowing containers to be placed in public view the evening before pickup. The previous ordinance only allowed an exception for the day of collection.


The City of Minnetonka is proposing a city ordinance that provides more options for property owners for placement of their waste containers.

The amended ordinance would give property owners more options to store their waste containers on non-collection days. As garbage collection has evolved and recycling/organics has been added, finding locations to store receptacles can be challenging. The proposed ordinance would no longer require containers be "out of public view" but rather ensure waste containers are "not visible from adjacent streets or properties or, at a minimum, located behind the front building line of the home."

Allowed under proposed ordinance 
NOT allowed under proposed ordinance

Prior to drafting a final ordinance for the city council, the city is open to community feedback and information regarding the proposed ordinance. You can share your feedback and ask questions in the spaces provided below.

Share feedback and information

Prior to drafting a final ordinance for the city council, the city is open to feedback and information regarding the proposed ordinance. Please share it in the space provided. Comment will be accepted through May 20.

The Minnetonka City Council added language to its ordinance at its June 3, 2024 meeting.

Thank you for your feedback. The comment period on Minnetonka Matters has closed. You can follow the project on this page.

My wife and I live in SW Minnetonka near Covington Road and 101. There are four single family homes on the street where we reside. The rest of the residences are twin homes many of which are now rentals. We bought our home in 2007. Many of our Twin Home neighbors fail to follow the current ordinances regarding waste and recycling bins and off street parking (ordinances that are not enforced) so why will they follow a less restrictive ordinances? Keep what is currently in place and start in enforcing the current ordinances as our neighborhood is getting less desirable to live in and our single family home property values have risen less than the rest of the Minnetonka market.

While your at get someone to enforce other ordinances like unkempt lawns, people doing fee for service car repair in their garage, parking more vehicles on their property, etc., etc., etc.

CJB 6 months ago

Leave ordinance alone. Enough outside stuff. Keep Minnetonka beautiful!!!!

pattymarie 6 months ago

I prefer the current ordinance. I do not want to see any more garbage/recycling/yard waste/ organic bins. The current ordinance is fine. Don’t change it.

MsPC 6 months ago

I recommend that the ordinance remains as it is currently without change

treehorn 6 months ago

PLEASE leave the current ordinance for trash bins! Already many homes don't follow our current requirements. With a more lenient requirement, the trash bins will be even more of an eyesore!

Diane Bancroft 6 months ago

We oppose outside storage, as some people are hoarders and don’t even put their cars in their garages. Now on top of that, their neighbors have to look at their trash bins from their front porch?? If the ordinance is changed to outside storage, then there should be at the least 1) a “lock” on the bins to deter raccoons and rodents, and 2) they should be stored behind some sort of fencing to hide them from neighbors’ view. I would think complaints about stray trash or unsightly overflowing bins would deter the city from making this change. We have just ordered a compost bin and will take the time to make room in the garage. If residents are required to do that, they will. Which is the right thing to do as a good neighbor. All food related garbage bins must be inside. Possibly recycle bins (but they also have food smells to attract critters) or grass clippings could be outside, but behind fencing. If we wanted to live in communities without zoning ordinances controlling junk and garbage—and controlling lawn care as we do now—we would have moved to Colorado. some communities use alleys for bin storage, but their neighbors don’t have to look at them from their front porches. Please leave well enough alone and attempt to find alternatives to outside storage. We will probably downsize our garbage bin now that we have a compost bin. Problem solved in the garage.

CelticChica 6 months ago

I oppose this proposal and would like to keep things as they are.

BW10 6 months ago

With the limited information provided, I'd oppose any change to the ordinance. It seems that people already have the opportunity to leave their bins outside, providing they have a shelter for them. This seems to meet all needs - those who don't want to see garbage cans, and those who don't have room to store them in their garage.

Mtka Resident 56 6 months ago

I am opposed to changing this ordinance. If people do not have room in their garages they should be able to put up an outside area for the refuse and recycling which is screened from public view - this does not seem to be such a big ask! I also think Minnetonka should send out reminder letters, to people who are not complying with current code, reminding them of the policy regarding this matter. Minnetonka is a beautiful city and it seems a shame to start cluttering it up with more visual blight in the form of refuse and recycle containers of every color and size. Again, I am not in favor of changing the current status quo! Warren B a Minnetonka resident since 1981.

WBB in Mtka 6 months ago

I want the garbage can ordinance to remain as is. It is unsightly to have them visible outside, and attracts vermin, and smells.

Susan B. 6 months ago

Leave the existing ordinance in place and enforce it.
Same holds true for the 2 Bagsters sitting on the front lawn for 6 months now. (Moorland Road).

P & G Donkey 6 months ago

Makes sense to update this ordinance for the stated purposes. We used to be able to have our garbage container in our garage. Now we also have two large recycle bins and an organic waste bin. It's getting a bit crowded in the garage. The proposed fix - behind the front property line and/or at side of house not visible from the street draw a decent compromise. I support this ordinance as proposed.

Beth Baldwin 6 months ago

Makes sense to update this ordinance for the stated purposes. We used to be able to have our garbage container in our garage. Now we also have two large recycle bins and an organic waste bin. It's getting a bit crowded in the garage. The proposed fix - behind the front property line and/or at side of house not visible from the street draw a decent compromise. I support this ordinance as proposed.

Beth Baldwin 6 months ago

I support a more flexible ordinance. Not all homes have large garages and many of the 50's homes, including mine, are tuck-under garages. I have 2 small vehicles and can only get 1 container in my garage. I have side storage that most neighbors don't even notice. It can be handled to not look trashy.

GardenSpot 6 months ago

Please leave the ordinance as is. I do not want to look at any more garbage bins.

algo 6 months ago

Appreciate the opportunity to provide feedback. As many have already said, there appears to be strong opposition to this proposed change. We currently have many households that routinely leave their overflowing track out in front of their homes. I’m not sure why the City would consider changing the requirement or what possible benefit there could be to the change? The proposed ordinance doesn’t provide any context or rationale so hard to understand why this is being considered. Let please keep our City clean and have leave waste containers out of public view! Thank you.

Anonymous 6 months ago

We oppose the amendment of this ordinance. Garbage, recycling & composting containers should be kept out of public view. We have a two car garage and there is plenty of room to store all three of our containers in the garage. "not visible from adjacent streets or properties or, at a minimum, located behind the front building line of the home." is too vague and is going to lead to disputes between neighbors.

ldtmtka 6 months ago

I want to amend my previous comment to indicate I do not support this proposed ordinance. If homeowners cannot fit bins in their garage, they can simply install a basic fence enclosure to hide the bins. This ordinance has more negative impact than is needed to accommodate the issue of multiple bins.

Kahjennings 6 months ago

Clearly, the ordinance should be modified in order for households to accomodate up to four waste containers without the majority of the households being in violation of the current ordinance. What I find ironic is that the City of Minnetonka appears to be proposing what it currently permits by its lack of enforcement.

HBR 6 months ago

I would oppose the change. I think side storage is going to get trashy and they will be showing up everywhere. Outdoor storage should be screened.

Andrew T 6 months ago