Port St. Lucie and St. Lucie County property owners and community managers: simplify solid waste and recycling compliance while boosting resident satisfaction. National Doorstep’s valet trash & recycling service aligns with the City of Port St. Lucie Code of Ordinances, Chapter 50 (“Solid Waste and Recyclable Materials Collection Service”) and St. Lucie County’s countywide solid-waste and recycling framework (including interlocal arrangements for disposal) to reduce contamination and enhance NOI — all with a turnkey, inspector-friendly program.
Within the City of Port St. Lucie, solid waste and recyclable materials collection is mandatory for all residential properties, including multi-family communities, under Chapter 50, Article I. Multi-family dwelling units (any 4 or more dwelling units under one roof) must provide appropriate containers and ensure residents place trash in garbage containers or mechanical dumpsters and recyclables in dedicated recycling containers. In the unincorporated areas of St. Lucie County, all improved properties served by the County’s system must participate in solid waste and recycling service, supporting Florida’s multifamily recycling requirements.
- NOI & Property Value Lift: Cleaner, code-aligned waste and recycling areas improve curb appeal, reduce overflow, and support higher resident retention.
- Resident Convenience & Cleanliness: Doorstep collection reduces corral crowding, dumpster overflow, litter, and contamination — especially at peak move-in/move-out periods.
- Compliance Simplified: Program design that matches Port St. Lucie Chapter 50 and St. Lucie County’s collection and recycling requirements, including multi-family expectations.
- Code-Backed Design: Inspector-friendly container layouts, signage, resident education, and documentation to help you avoid ongoing code-enforcement actions, citations, and per-day fines.
At a Glance: City of Port St. Lucie vs. St. Lucie County
City of Port St. Lucie
- Mandate Type: Mandatory solid-waste and recycling collection for all improved residential properties using the City’s franchise hauler.
- Applicability Threshold (Multifamily): Applies to “multi-family dwelling units” defined as 4 or more dwelling units under one roof (including apartments, condominiums, townhouses, and mixed-use buildings).
- Core Duties for Owners & Managers:
- Maintain subscription to City-franchised solid waste and recycling service (Sec. 50.03 – Mandatory collection of solid waste).
- Provide appropriate garbage containers, recycling containers, and mechanical containers sized for the community.
- Ensure residents place all trash in the dumpster or cart and all recyclables in dedicated recycling containers on site (Sec. 50.07 – Residential collection for multi-family dwellings).
- Require recyclables to be set out loose, not bagged in plastic, consistent with City recycling guidance.
- Enforcement: Violations of Chapter 50 may be enforced through solid-waste citations and civil penalties (as updated by Ordinance 23-28), as well as Chapter 37 (Special Magistrate) and Florida’s code enforcement system (F.S. Chapter 162). Each day of non-compliance may be treated as a separate offense (Sec. 50.16 – Violations; penalties).
- Key City Links:
Port St. Lucie Code – Chapter 50 (Solid Waste & Recyclable Materials)
Sec. 50.03 – Mandatory Collection of Solid Waste
Sec. 50.16 – Violations; Penalties
Port St. Lucie Code of Ordinances (Municode)
City of Port St. Lucie – Recycling Guide
St. Lucie County (Unincorporated)
- Mandate Type: Mandatory participation in the County’s solid waste system for improved properties, including a residential recycling program (single-stream) that captures multifamily recycling performance.
- Applicability Threshold (Multifamily): Applies broadly to all improved properties served by the County’s residential franchise, including multi-family communities in unincorporated St. Lucie County.
- Program Duties (Multifamily):
- Subscribe to County-approved solid waste and recycling service for the property.
- Provide adequate containers and placement areas so residents can use single-stream recycling correctly (all recyclables together in approved containers).
- Prevent illegal dumping, litter, and nuisance conditions at disposal and collection points.
- Follow any flow-control, franchise, or disposal requirements directing material to County-designated facilities.
- Enforcement: Violations of County solid-waste and recycling requirements may be handled through the County’s code enforcement process (Code Enforcement Board or Special Magistrate) with per-day civil penalties and potential liens for ongoing non-compliance.
- Key County Links:
St. Lucie County Code of Ordinances (Municode)
St. Lucie County – Single-Stream Recycling
St. Lucie County – Solid Waste & Recycling Program
Fines & Penalties Snapshot
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City of Port St. Lucie – Solid Waste & Recycling Non-Compliance:
Sec. 50.16 – Violations; penalties makes owners, occupants, residents, lessees, and agents jointly responsible for complying with Chapter 50. It is unlawful to fail, neglect, or refuse to comply with any provision. Key enforcement tools include:
• Solid-waste citations and civil penalties (Ordinance 23-28 amending Chapter 50 to add civil citation authority for solid-waste violations).
• Use of the City’s Special Magistrate or Code Enforcement Board under Chapter 37 and Florida Statutes Chapter 162.
• Each day that a violation continues may be treated as a separate offense, allowing fines to accrue daily until compliance is confirmed.
Under Florida’s code enforcement statute (F.S. 162.09), local governments commonly impose:
• Up to a $250 per day fine for a first violation;
• Up to a $500 per day fine for repeat violations; and
• Higher fines (up to several thousand dollars per violation) for serious, irreparable, or irreversible violations where adopted by local ordinance. Unpaid fines and costs may result in a recorded lien against the property. -
St. Lucie County – Solid Waste & Recycling Non-Compliance (Unincorporated):
In unincorporated St. Lucie County, failure to properly participate in the County’s solid waste and recycling program — including illegal dumping, unauthorized disposal, or failure to use required service — can result in:
• Notices of violation and orders to correct;
• Civil fines assessed per day of non-compliance under the County’s code-enforcement procedures; and
• Liens recorded against the property for unpaid fines, fees, and abatement costs. While specific fine schedules are set by County ordinance and resolution, they generally align with the same Florida code-enforcement ranges (hundreds of dollars per day) used by other counties. - Tip: By maintaining service contracts, recycling container maps, resident education records, and photos of clean, well-signed recycling areas, you give inspectors a clear, documented story of good-faith compliance — which is the best way to avoid daily penalties or liens.
Property Manager Compliance Checklist (Port St. Lucie & St. Lucie County Multifamily)
| Task | Action / Requirement | Authoritative Links |
|---|---|---|
| ☑ Confirm Jurisdiction & Applicable Ordinances |
Determine whether your community is located:
• Inside the City of Port St. Lucie: Multi-family communities follow Chapter 50 (solid waste & recyclables), including Sec. 50.03 (mandatory collection), Sec. 50.05 (set-out rules), Sec. 50.07 (multi-family collection), and Sec. 50.16 (violations; penalties). • In unincorporated St. Lucie County: Properties participate in the County’s solid waste and single-stream recycling programs and must follow County solid-waste and code-enforcement ordinances. • In another city within St. Lucie County: Confirm whether that municipality has adopted County requirements by interlocal agreement and what additional local standards may apply. |
Port St. Lucie – Chapter 50 Sec. 50.03 – Mandatory Collection St. Lucie County Code |
| ☑ Subscribe to Required Solid Waste & Recycling Service |
Ensure your property has active, documented service for both trash and recycling:
• Within Port St. Lucie, use the City’s franchised hauler and confirm service level (carts vs. mechanical containers) matches occupancy and collection frequency. • In unincorporated County, subscribe to approved County service that includes single-stream recycling for your residents. • Verify that your contract covers the main recyclable materials generated (paper, cardboard, metals, plastics, glass). • Maintain copies of any applicable self-haul approvals or special service arrangements in your files. |
City of Port St. Lucie – Office of Solid Waste St. Lucie County – Solid Waste & Recycling Single-Stream Recycling Program |
| ☑ Containers, Corral Layout & Set-Out Rules |
Provide clearly labeled containers and a code-aligned layout:
• Use mechanical dumpsters or compactors for garbage in larger multifamily communities, supplemented with cart service where appropriate. • Provide dedicated recycling containers (carts or dumpsters) that are as convenient as the trash containers to encourage proper use. • Post sign panels showing residents where to place trash vs. recyclables, consistent with City recycling rules (recyclables empty, clean, dry, and not bagged in plastic). • Keep enclosures and collection points free of overflow, illegal dumping, and windblown litter to avoid nuisance or code-enforcement complaints. |
Port St. Lucie – Chapter 50, Article I City Recycling Guidance County Recycling Guide |
| ☑ Resident Education & Communication |
Build a simple resident communication plan that proves you’re doing your part:
• Provide written recycling instructions to residents at move-in and at least once or twice per year thereafter (welcome letters, flyers, emails, resident portal posts). • Include clear “what goes where” visuals and highlight Port St. Lucie and County rules (e.g., recyclables must be loose in carts, trash must go into containers, no illegal dumping by dumpsters). • Use door hangers or text/email reminders after contamination issues, bulk overflows, or observed misuse of containers. • Keep copies (PDFs, screenshots, printouts) of all resident-facing communications in an easily accessible compliance folder. |
City Recycling Education Resources St. Lucie County Solid Waste Resources |
| ☑ Documentation & Avoiding Daily Fines |
Create an “inspection-ready” binder (digital or physical) for your community:
• Current trash and recycling service agreements, invoices, and route or pickup schedules. • Photos of container areas showing signage, cleanliness, and container labels. • Logs of resident education (dates, channels, and content) and contamination notices. • Notes from internal weekly walk-throughs of corral areas and any corrective actions taken. Well-documented efforts help you demonstrate good-faith compliance if a City or County inspector visits — and can prevent issues from escalating into daily civil fines or liens under Chapter 50, Chapter 37, and Florida Statutes Chapter 162. |
Port St. Lucie Sec. 50.16 – Violations; Penalties Port St. Lucie Ordinances & Agendas (Legistar) St. Lucie County Code & Enforcement Framework |
| ☑ Turn Compliance into a Leasing Advantage |
Use your recycling and cleanliness program as a marketing point:
• Highlight valet trash & recycling, clean enclosures, and clear sustainability messaging in your leasing tours and online listings. • Show prospective residents before/after photos of improved container areas and reduced overflow. • Emphasize that your community follows City of Port St. Lucie and St. Lucie County solid-waste rules, which supports community cleanliness and neighborhood pride. |
St. Lucie County – Solid Waste & Recycling Overview City of Port St. Lucie – Solid Waste |
Need a fast compliance check in Port St. Lucie or St. Lucie County? Request a Free Compliance Audit for your Port St. Lucie or unincorporated St. Lucie County property — we’ll right-size your containers, draft resident education, and prepare inspection-ready documentation so you can stay ahead of citations, daily penalties, and nuisance complaints.
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