Williston-area apartment owners, asset managers, and on-site teams: even without a formal apartment recycling mandate, you are still operating under Williston City Code, Chapter 19 – Solid Waste and strict landfill rules that can trigger fines, fees, and enforcement if refuse is mishandled. National Doorstep’s valet trash & recycling program is built to keep your communities aligned with Chapter 19 and the City’s landfill acceptance policies while giving residents the clean, convenient doorstep service they expect.
Within the City of Williston, all premises – including multi-family and apartment properties – must use the municipal refuse collection system or an approved equivalent, keep refuse properly contained in sanitary containers, and avoid unlawful dumping or unsecured hauling under Chapter 19, §§ 19-1 through 19-3. There is currently no codified apartment recycling mandate or unit threshold, but violations of the solid-waste rules can carry up to $500 per day in fines and up to 30 days in jail for each day a violation continues. In unincorporated Williams County, subdivisions must provide solid-waste disposal service where required by the Board of County Commissioners, but again there is no county-wide recycling requirement for apartments.
- Protect NOI & Asset Value: Avoid solid-waste violations and landfill penalties by aligning your collection practices, hauling, and resident behaviors with Williston’s Refuse Ordinance and landfill rules.
- Resident-First Convenience: Doorstep service that keeps residents out of windy enclosures and icy lots, reduces overflows, and supports renewals and online reputation in a historically high-demand energy market.
- Code-Smart Design: Container layouts, labeling, and service frequencies engineered around Chapter 19 unlawful-acts language, waste-acceptance separation rules, and Department of Environmental Quality requirements.
- Hands-Off Compliance: We coordinate with haulers, educate residents, and document your program so property managers can focus on leasing and operations while staying inspection-ready.
At a Glance: City of Williston vs. Williams County (Unincorporated Areas)
City of Williston (Inside City Limits)
- Mandate Type: No dedicated apartment recycling mandate. Mandatory municipal solid-waste service and rules under Chapter 19 – Solid Waste.
- Applicability Threshold: Chapter 19 applies broadly to all premises, including multi-family dwellings and apartment houses; there is no “8+ unit” style recycling trigger.
- Owner / Property Manager Duties: Use the municipal refuse collection system or approved contractor; keep garbage, rubbish, and refuse in approved containers; prevent unlawful dumping, unsecured loads, and other § 19-3 “unlawful acts”; cooperate with Public Works enforcement.
- Program Duties: While recycling is voluntary, property managers who offer it must still meet landfill waste-acceptance and separation rules when hauling material to the City Landfill, including securing loads and separating metal and special wastes.
- Key City Links: Williston City Code – Chapter 19 Solid Waste · City of Williston Landfill · Waste Acceptance & Load Rules · Recycle Items (City of Williston) · City Code of Ordinances
Williams County (Unincorporated Areas)
- Mandate Type: No county-wide multifamily recycling mandate. Solid waste is handled through zoning, subdivision, and development standards.
- Applicability Threshold: Chapter 5-1-13 “Solid Waste” of the Williams County Zoning Ordinance requires that solid waste disposal services shall be provided by the applicant where deemed appropriate by the Board of County Commissioners—but does not impose a specific apartment recycling threshold.
- Owner / Property Manager Duties: For new developments and subdivisions, ensure adequate solid-waste disposal services, screening, access, and turnaround areas as required; comply with any conditions imposed by the Board or local townships.
- Risk Profile: While recycling is voluntary, properties can face enforcement or conditions through zoning, subdivision approvals, or nuisance/health rules if waste is not properly managed.
- Key County Links: Williams County Zoning Ordinance & Subdivision Regulations · PDF – Zoning Ordinance (see § 5-1-13 Solid Waste) · Williams County – Official Site
Williston & Williams County Apartment Recycling & Solid-Waste Summary
Neither Williston nor Williams County currently has a codified apartment recycling mandate with a specific dwelling-unit threshold. Instead, multifamily properties are regulated through solid-waste ordinances, landfill rules, and subdivision standards. Strategic valet trash & recycling helps property managers get ahead of future policy changes while staying compliant today.
| Jurisdiction | Apartment Recycling Mandate? | Notes for Owners & Property Managers |
|---|---|---|
| City of Williston | No – Solid-waste ordinance only | Chapter 19 – Solid Waste governs refuse collection, unlawful acts, and penalties citywide, including apartments. There is no dedicated multifamily recycling ordinance, but it is unlawful to improperly dispose of refuse, place uncontained loads on streets or alleys, or haul refuse without a permit. Violations of § 19-3 can be punished by a fine of up to $500 per day, up to 30 days in jail, or both, with each day a separate offense. Property managers who voluntarily offer recycling must still comply with landfill waste-acceptance and separation rules, secure loads, and avoid prohibited materials at the City Landfill. |
| Unincorporated Williams County | No – Zoning/subdivision solid-waste standard | The Williams County Zoning Ordinance & Subdivision Regulations require that solid waste disposal services be provided where the Board of County Commissioners deems appropriate (Chapter 5-1-13), and allow performance standards and conditions for multiple-family developments. There is no specific requirement that apartment communities provide on-site recycling to residents, but the County can impose conditions, and general nuisance and health rules still apply. Best practice is to design a program that keeps enclosures clean and anticipate future recycling expectations. |
Williston & Williams County Fines & Penalties Snapshot
- Williston Solid-Waste Violations (Chapter 19): Under § 19-3(b), unlawful acts related to refuse (such as improper dumping, unsecured loads on rights-of-way, or hauling without a required permit) can be punished by a fine of up to $500, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both, and each day is a separate offense. The City may also pursue judicial action to abate violations.
- Landfill Unsecured-Load & Separation Fees: At the City Landfill, all loads must be secured. An unsecured load is subject to a $25 fee for the first offense and $50 thereafter. Mixed loads that are not properly separated can be charged at higher MSW rates, and leaving metal for staff to separate can add a $250 fee. Contaminated loads with used pit liners or filter socks may incur a $10,000 fee under DEQ Guideline 42 and Article 33-20 of the North Dakota Administrative Code.
- State-Level Oversight: The landfill is regulated by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality, and all rules enforced at the facility follow state law and administrative code. Property managers who self-haul or coordinate hauling must ensure haulers are properly permitted and follow these rules.
- Williams County Zoning & Subdivision Enforcement: The County ordinance provides for criminal and civil penalties, separate violations for each day of non-compliance, and additional remedies and enforcement procedures (Article 3-8 and Chapter 4-1). While these are not recycling-specific, they can apply to developments that fail to provide required solid-waste services or violate conditions of approval.
- Risk Management Tip: Treat solid-waste compliance like life-safety: keep hauler contracts, service logs, photos of enclosures, resident education pieces, and any County or City approvals in a single compliance file. This helps demonstrate good-faith efforts if a notice of violation, landfill fee dispute, or zoning compliance question arises.
Williston & Williams County Multifamily Solid-Waste & Recycling Checklist
| Task | Action / Requirement | Helpful Links |
|---|---|---|
| ☑ Confirm Jurisdiction & Service Area | Verify whether your community is inside Williston city limits or in unincorporated Williams County. Properties inside the city must follow Chapter 19 – Solid Waste and use the municipal collection system or an approved arrangement. County properties should confirm any solid-waste conditions attached to zoning or subdivision approvals. | Williston Code – Chapter 19 Solid Waste · Williston Landfill · Williams County Zoning Ordinance |
| ☑ Align Trash Service With City & County Rules | Ensure your trash service complies with Chapter 19 (for city properties) and any County conditions for solid-waste disposal. That includes using appropriate containers, maintaining collection frequency to prevent overflow, and avoiding unlawful acts like dumping on streets or alleys. | Williston Refuse Ordinance · Waste Acceptance Rules |
| ☑ Manage Landfill Loads & Haulers | If your property or hauler uses the City Landfill, confirm loads are secured, properly separated, and free of prohibited materials. Understand when loads should go to MSW vs. inert, and how metals and special wastes must be handled to avoid added fees and rejected loads. | Williston Waste Acceptance · Landfill Rates |
| ☑ Design a Voluntary Recycling Program | Even though recycling is not mandated, design a resident-friendly recycling program that uses clear labels, consistent collection days, and convenient collection points or valet service. This reduces contamination and helps keep you ahead of any future recycling ordinances. | City of Williston – Recycle Items |
| ☑ Resident Education & Communication | Provide simple instructions to residents at move-in and regularly thereafter: what goes in trash vs. recycling, how to bag material for doorstep pickup, and when to set items out. Use multilingual flyers and digital reminders where appropriate. | Internal property templates + National Doorstep resources. |
| ☑ Build an Inspection-Ready Compliance File | Keep copies of service agreements, landfill tickets, photos of enclosures, resident notices, and any County/City approvals. This file becomes your go-to evidence if a code officer, lender, or owner questions your solid-waste and recycling practices. | Property files / owner portal. |
Want a Williston/Williams County solid-waste plan that keeps residents happy and regulators off your back? Request a Free Compliance Audit for your Williston-area property. We’ll review your current setup, right-size containers and service, map your program to Williston Chapter 19 and landfill rules, and design a resident-friendly valet trash & recycling program that’s ready for inspectors and investors alike.
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