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.

NO. These bins fit in garages or behind garages. Folks who say they are overburdened are lazy and slobs. Get these damned things off the street, out of the yards, and stop trying to look like North Mpls!

wiley1827 7 months ago

I strongly support the increased flexibility for bin storage, esp. given the number of bins we now have. One option with the new organics recycling would be for neighbors to share a bin. Thanks to the city for NOT enforcing the existing stricter ordinance; what a ridiculous waste of time.

JAT 7 months ago

I have four bins for 1) organics 2) waste 3) recycling 4) yard waste, they all fit in our two-car garage. As more people adopt organics since we're all paying for it now, that means more bins per household. Please take this into consideration for this ordinance. For those that have a home on a corner, this poses challenges. Having lived in a strict HOA city in the past, I think the current ordinance is reasonable and would like it to remain the same. We have plenty of other relaxed ordinances/rules such as yard vegetation height, hanging laundry outside, etc. Perhaps develop some specifications for screening for outside storage for those people that have barriers (slope, physical access) to storing bins inside.

nature_nel 7 months ago

I support this change. With the increase in property theft, I'd rather save room in the garage for valuable items. My trash, recycling, and organic waste is safe outside tucked neatly against my garage.

JennyfromtheMTKAblock 7 months ago

Don’t approve… don’t we have better things to do? Who cares what and where garbage cans go

djl 7 months ago

City ordinances should also take into consideration impact on neighborhoods, neighbors, property values and the aesthetic that goes with values. Allowing outside garbage storage is a “sore sight”. As I drive through Minnetonka- where by the way we have some of the higher selling homes in the Metro area, there are many homes that have “junk” stored outside. This detracts from everyone’s home value- in proximity to the home that is allowed to do so. My family grew up poor but my 90 year old dad always said you can still present yourself well and you need to take care of your stuff. Sadly in Minnetonka many residents don’t seem to get this concept. Outside storage is a bad idea- as it will deteriorate the look of our communities.

Chargoe 7 months ago

I support.

DLA 7 months ago

I support

pricedcrystal 7 months ago

I am in favor of this ordinance change. Many people do not have space in their garages to store multiple trash bins, especially in winter. In addition, a trash bin is no different from other things neighbors might find objectionable in someone’s yard, such as a hose reel or a compost bin.

And in response to some other comments, I was cited three weeks in a row for having a visible bin. Turns out it was a black bin I purchased from Menards and had in my back yard for leaves and yard waste, but I have a corner house and it was visible from the side road.

Schezacn 7 months ago

I think the ordinance should include the requirement that all material must fit completely the bin and allow the top to close completely. No overflowing bins or material on the ground. This will limit the exposure of neighbors to trash and also avoid some of the concerns about attracting animals.

Kahjennings 7 months ago

I support the proposed changes.

MtkRes 7 months ago

I oppose this change. There is no enforcement of the current ordinance, so if there is also no enforcement of the new ordinance, the opportunity to continue to be a scofflaw is even more likely. All waste containers should be inside a garage or behind the garage. Always.

Mtka Girl 7 months ago

I am very much in support of this proposal. With each home having several large waste containers now, having more flexibility to store these would be appreciated. The proposal as written provides a good compromise that allows for flexibility but also responsible and minimally intrusive storage of these waste containers.

Dan C 7 months ago

I'm fine with the proposed ordinance. What I'm not fine with is the lack of consistent enforcement.

noi 7 months ago

Let’s not change this. No one wants to see their neighbors containers. Additionally, no everyone is going to manage these and it’s going to cause more issues.

Avoigt 7 months ago

I don’t support this proposal. The growing amount of containers next to every home is only growing . It’s an eyesore and attracts more rodents and raccoons.

Tom 7 months ago

I'm opposed to this change - the unenforced ordinance is already an eyesore and this will make matters worse. No one wants to see their neighbors trash bins...no one. Perhaps some city sponsored workshops on how to organize your garage are in order. There are other solutions besides leaving them outside to blow over and litter trash around the neighborhood.

caschw 7 months ago

My house is not on street level as I have a rise on both sides. It is easier for me to keep trash containers to the side against the retaining wall. I see nothing wrong with that as long as they are clean and not over stuffed with debris. Trash is a fact of life and as long as it doesn't look like a landfill I am okay with containers in the driveway. Thanks

mbollinger98B 7 months ago

I am so against this change. Minnetonka already has too much junk in peoples's yards---please no more.

Gregg 7 months ago

I drive around a lot. I see a lot of trash cans in front of homes under the awning. That really doesn’t bother me as long as they are not overloaded and trash everywhere. This is a very difficult ordinance to try and enforce( our law enforcement has enough to deal with). I am ok with any direction the city takes. Thank you Minnetonka.

Skoldier 7 months ago