Ocala and Marion County property owners and community managers: simplify solid-waste compliance while boosting resident satisfaction. National Doorstep’s valet trash & recycling service aligns with the City of Ocala Solid Waste Code (Chapter 54) and Marion County Solid Waste & Litter Code (Chapter 16, including the 2022 Litter Ordinance) to keep dumpster areas clean, reduce nuisance complaints, and protect NOI — all with a turnkey, inspector-friendly program.
Today, neither the City of Ocala nor unincorporated Marion County has a codified apartment/multifamily recycling mandate like some Florida jurisdictions. Ocala offers curbside recycling and “Community & Apartment Recycling” options for residents, while Marion County operates multiple recycling centers for residents who pay the solid-waste assessment. Florida law (Fla. Stat. § 403.706) requires counties to run recycling programs and meet diversion goals, but it does not specifically require apartment communities to provide recycling to residents — that choice is left to local governments.
- NOI & Property Value Lift: Cleaner, code-aligned waste areas improve curb appeal, reduce overflow and illegal dumping, and support higher resident retention.
- Resident Convenience & Cleanliness: Doorstep collection keeps corridors and dumpster enclosures tidier, cutting down on spills, scattered bags, and contamination — especially at peak move-in/move-out periods.
- Compliance Simplified: Program design that matches Ocala Chapter 54 container and pad rules plus Marion County Chapter 16 solid-waste and litter expectations, while supporting state recycling goals.
- Code-Backed Design: Inspector-friendly layouts, signage, resident education, and documentation that help you avoid costly cleanups and enforcement actions.
At a Glance: City of Ocala vs Marion County
City of Ocala
- Mandate Type: No explicit multifamily recycling mandate. The City provides residential curbside recycling and supports “Community & Apartment Recycling” models for residents but does not require apartment communities to offer recycling service by ordinance.
- Applicability Threshold: N/A — there is no unit-count trigger for required apartment recycling service as of 2025.
- Solid-Waste & Dumpster Rules: Chapter 54 – Solid Waste governs container placement, prohibited acts, and enforcement. § 54-36 requires all new commercial and multifamily construction or renovation plans to include dumpster pads that meet the City’s specifications.
- Recycling Program Highlights: Ocala contracts with a hauler for single-stream residential recycling. Residents in communities and apartments may use smaller bins and take recyclables to designated collection points on-site.
- Key City Links:
Ocala Recycling – Community & Apartment Recycling
What to Recycle – City of Ocala
Ocala Code – Chapter 54, Solid Waste (eLaws)
Ocala Code of Ordinances (Municode)
Marion County (Unincorporated)
- Mandate Type: No apartment-specific recycling mandate. The County implements a recycling program and operates recycling centers in line with Fla. Stat. § 403.706, but there is no ordinance requiring multifamily properties to provide on-site recycling to residents.
- Applicability Threshold: Residents in unincorporated Marion County who pay the solid-waste assessment may use county recycling centers at no extra charge. Businesses not paying the assessment must use the landfill or contract with private haulers.
- Solid-Waste Code: Chapter 16 – Solid Wastes (including articles on solid-waste management, assessment, and litter/junk). Ordinance 22-30 updated the litter section and strengthened enforcement tools for illegal dumping.
- Recycling Program Highlights: The County operates recycling centers that accept household garbage and single-stream recyclables from assessed residents, with hours and locations published on the Solid Waste website.
- Key County Links:
Marion County Solid Waste – Program Overview
Recycling & Trash Disposal – Recycling Centers
Materials Accepted at Recycling Centers
Marion County Code of Ordinances (Municode)
Ordinance 22-30 – Litter (document list)
Fines & Penalties Snapshot
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City of Ocala – Solid-Waste Violations:
Under § 54-126, General penalty; abatement, when a requirement in Chapter 54 is violated and no specific penalty is stated, a violator may be punished by:
• A fine up to $500 per offense, and/or
• Up to 60 days’ imprisonment,
with each day any violation continues treated as a separate offense. The City may also abate nuisance conditions related to solid waste.Additionally, § 54-125 allows the City to correct violations and bill the customer or property owner for extra collection and disposal costs on the utility bill if the problem is not fixed after written notice.Authoritative Links:
§ 54-126 – General penalty; abatement · § 54-125 – Violation (cost recovery) · Chapter 54 – Solid Waste (eLaws) -
Marion County – Litter, Junk & Illegal Dumping:
Marion County’s Chapter 16 and Ordinance 22-30 (Litter) establish enforcement for litter, junk, and illegal dumping. Violations can be treated as code-enforcement cases, with:
• Civil citations and fines for initial violations;
• Potential misdemeanor prosecution for serious or repeated offenses; and
• Authority for the County to pursue cost recovery and liens related to cleanup.
While these penalties are not written as “apartment recycling” fines, overflowing dumpsters, scattered waste, or dumping around enclosures can trigger enforcement under these provisions.Authoritative Links:
Marion County Code – Chapter 16, Solid Wastes · Ordinance 22-30 – Litter (document list) -
No Direct “Failure to Provide Recycling” Fine Today:
Because Ocala and Marion County do not currently mandate apartment recycling service, there is no dedicated penalty schedule for failing to provide recycling containers to residents. The real risk comes from:
• General solid-waste violations (overflow, improper storage, failure to correct issues); and
• Litter/illegal dumping violations around dumpsters and enclosures.
Good site design and resident-friendly recycling options are the easiest way to avoid those issues before they become code cases.
Property Manager Compliance Checklist (Ocala & Marion County Multifamily)
| Task | Action / Requirement | Authoritative Links |
|---|---|---|
| ☑ Confirm Jurisdiction & Service Model |
Determine how your community is served:
• Inside City of Ocala: Residential solid-waste and recycling service is provided under Chapter 54 and City contracts with haulers. Confirm your account type (residential vs. commercial) and dumpster setup for multifamily buildings. • In unincorporated Marion County: Residents pay a solid-waste assessment for access to recycling centers and may contract with franchise haulers for curbside collection. Confirm your service provider and what services are included for your community. In either case, there is no mandated multifamily recycling program, but offering recycling to residents is a best practice and supports state and local goals. |
Ocala Code – Chapter 54, Solid Waste Marion County Solid Waste Overview Marion County Code – Chapter 16 |
| ☑ Design Dumpster Pads & Enclosures to Code |
Ensure your dumpster pads and enclosures meet Ocala and/or county expectations:
• For Ocala multifamily properties, incorporate § 54-36 specifications into new construction or renovation plans (pad size, enclosure design, placement). Only City-owned dumpsters may be placed on City dumpster pads. • Design enclosures and corrals so they minimize windblown litter, discourage illegal dumping, and allow hauler access. • Consider separate, clearly marked areas for recyclables to support resident participation and reduce contamination. |
Ocala § 54-36 – Specifications for dumpsters & dumpster pads Ocala § 54-8 – Prohibited acts (solid waste) Marion – Chapter 16, Solid Wastes |
| ☑ Provide Right-Sized Trash & Optional Recycling |
Right-size containers and collection frequency for your resident population:
• Calculate peak volumes by building, not just by property, to prevent overflow and nuisance conditions. • When possible, provide clearly labeled recycling containers alongside trash containers where residents already travel (enclosures, cart rooms, compactor areas). • Coordinate with your hauler or Marion County recycling centers to ensure that materials accepted in your program match local processing capabilities. |
City of Ocala – What to Recycle Marion – Materials Accepted at Recycling Centers Marion – Recycling & Trash Disposal |
| ☑ Resident Education & House Rules |
Build a simple resident-focused education plan:
• Give new residents a one-page “How Trash & Recycling Work Here” handout at move-in showing set-out locations, times, and acceptable materials. • Post permanent signage at dumpster enclosures and collection points with icons and short, clear instructions. • Use email, resident portals, and door hangers to run quick contamination-reduction campaigns (e.g., “Keep bags tied,” “No loose trash in corral,” “Cardboard must be broken down”). • Keep copies of all resident communication so you can demonstrate good-faith efforts if an inspector visits. |
Ocala Recycling – Program Info Marion Solid Waste – Resources |
| ☑ Document Conditions & Avoid Daily Fines |
Set up an “inspection-ready” file (digital or physical) for your community:
• Photos of dumpster pads, enclosures, and any recycling containers in clean, orderly condition. • Copies of hauler agreements, route schedules, and service change requests. • Notes from regular internal walk-throughs (e.g., weekly) documenting and correcting issues like overflow, bulk items, or illegal dumping. • Copies of any code-enforcement correspondence and your corrective actions, so you can show prompt response and reduce the risk of escalating penalties. |
Ocala § 54-125 – Violation (cost recovery) Ocala § 54-126 – General Penalty Marion – Chapter 16 (Litter & Junk enforcement) |
| ☑ Align with State Recycling Goals |
Even without a local mandate, you can support Florida’s long-term recycling goals:
• Track estimated recycling volumes (e.g., number of toters or pulls per month) for internal reporting. • Consider adding voluntary recycling at properties closest to Marion County recycling centers to make participation easy for residents. • Use your property’s recycling story in marketing and ESG reporting to demonstrate leadership beyond minimum legal requirements. |
Fla. Stat. § 403.706 – Local Government Solid Waste Responsibilities Marion – Recycling Center Hours & Locations |
Need a fast compliance check in Ocala or unincorporated Marion County? Request a Free Compliance Audit for your Ocala or Marion County property — we’ll map your waste areas to local code, design a resident-friendly valet trash & recycling program, and prepare inspection-ready documentation so you can stay ahead of complaints, violations, and fines.
Interested in talking about how we can work together? Here's our contact info.
