San Antonio guides · Updated November 4, 2026

San Antonio trash, yard and property rules that affect rodents

Set carts out by 7 a.m., bring them in at the end of collection day and keep lids fully closed. The city's property maintenance code bans weeds over 12 inches and accumulated rubbish, two of the conditions that feed and hide rats.

Most of what keeps rats away from a San Antonio home is in two places: the Solid Waste Management Department's cart and collection rules, and the San Antonio Property Maintenance Code. The cart rules say to set carts out by 7 a.m. on collection day, bring them back once collection day is over, and never overfill them, because the lid has to close completely. The property code bans weeds and plant growth over 12 inches and accumulations of rubbish or garbage.

This guide pulls the rules that matter for rodents into one place and adds the habits that make the biggest difference in a San Antonio yard.

Garbage, recycling and organics carts

The Solid Waste Management Department's services guide has a few rules that double as rodent control. Place carts out by 7 a.m. on collection day and remove them from the curb once collection day is over. Don't over-stuff carts, and make sure the lid closes completely. Put the wheels against the curb and leave about three feet of space around each cart so the truck can reach it.

The guide also says you may wash your cart now and then to reduce odors and avoid pests. In summer, a cart with old food residue smells like dinner to a rat, and rats will gnaw at the bottom corners of a cart that holds food scraps.

Out by 7 a.m., back from the curb at the end of collection day
Lid fully closed, never overfilled
Rinse the cart now and then, especially in hot weather
Bag food waste tightly and don't leave extra bags beside the cart

The green organics cart

San Antonio's green organics cart takes food waste along with yard trimmings. The services guide lists food waste, peels and cores, table scraps, and nuts and grains among accepted items, with the rule of thumb that if a worm can't eat it, it doesn't go in the green cart. That's a good program, and it also puts food in a cart that sits outside for a week.

Keep the lid shut, rinse the cart after collection in summer, and wrap scraps in newspaper or a paper bag so they don't sit loose in the bottom. Don't pile overflow next to the cart. If the cart is cracked or the lid won't close, ask 311 about a repair or replacement.

Brush and bulky collection

The services guide says curbside brush collection and curbside bulky collection each come twice a year, with notice sent 7 to 10 days before collection begins. Bulky piles are limited to eight cubic yards. Accepted brush includes tree branches, woody vines and shrubs, and only clean brush should go out. For out-of-cycle pickups, the guide says to call 311 for a cost estimate.

A brush pile is rodent housing. Woodrats and Norway rats move into piles that sit for weeks. Time your trimming close to your collection window so the pile goes out shortly before pickup, not a month ahead. Keep piles off the fence line and away from the house. If you're trimming limbs off the roof to stop roof rats, plan that trim around your brush dates.

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Weeds, rubbish and junk in the property code

The 2021 San Antonio Property Maintenance Code covers the yard conditions that hide rats. Section 302.4 requires improved premises and exterior property to be kept free from weeds or plant growth over 12 inches, with exceptions for cultivated gardens, certain native or landscaped plants, and golf course rough. Section 302.1 requires exterior property and premises to be kept clean, safe and sanitary.

Section 308.1 says exterior property, premises and building interiors must be free from any accumulation of rubbish or garbage. Section 308.2 requires occupants to dispose of rubbish in a clean and sanitary way using approved containers, and 308.2.1 makes the owner of an occupied premises supply approved covered containers unless a contract or the city provides otherwise. Section 302.5 requires exterior property to be kept free of rodent harborage.

The city's Code Facts booklet puts it more simply: cut grass and weeds regularly, keep trash in bins with lids, and don't store old furniture or junk outside.

Vacant lots

Overgrown vacant lots are a common source of rats. Section 301.3 of the property maintenance code says vacant lots fall under the Building Standards Board and Chapter 14, Article V of the City Code, lot clearance. Report an overgrown or trashed lot through 311. Our city reporting guide explains what happens after you report.

Bird feeders, pets, chickens and compost

We couldn't find a San Antonio ordinance aimed at bird feeding or backyard compost as a rodent rule, so treat these as practical habits rather than legal requirements. They still matter more than most things on this page.

Hang feeders away from the house and pick up spilled seed every few days
Store bird seed, pet food and chicken feed in metal cans with tight lids
Bring pet bowls in at night
Use a closed compost tumbler or a bin with a wire mesh bottom, and keep meat and dairy out of open piles
Collect eggs daily and close coops at night
Pick up pecans and fallen citrus instead of leaving them on the ground

A ten-minute rodent walkaround

Once a month, walk your yard with these rules in mind. It takes ten minutes and catches most problems early:

Carts: lids closed, no bags beside them, no gnaw marks at the bottom corners
Grass and weeds: under 12 inches, especially along fences and the foundation
Junk and storage: nothing piled against the house, fence or shed, and old furniture hauled off at the next bulky pickup
Brush: piles set out close to the collection date, not weeks ahead
Food: no fallen fruit or pecans left lying, feeders cleaned up, pet bowls inside at night
Signs: burrows along the slab, droppings in the garage, stick nests under the deck

Neighbors and shared fences

Rats don't respect property lines. If the yard next door has the junk pile, talk to the neighbor first if you can. Many people don't know their shed is full of nests. If that doesn't work, or the property is vacant, report it through 311.

When good habits aren't enough

If you keep a clean yard and still see rats, they've found shelter and a way in. Look for burrows along the slab and under sheds, droppings in the garage, and noise in the attic. A provider can trap and seal the entry points. For a whole-year plan, read the prevention article.

Ready to have the gaps found and sealed? Call and describe what you're seeing.
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Questions from callers

What time do carts need to be out?

The Solid Waste Management Department's guide says by 7 a.m. on collection day, and carts should be removed from the curb once collection day is over.

Can food scraps go in the green cart?

Yes. The department's guide lists food waste, peels and cores, table scraps, and nuts and grains as accepted. Keep the lid closed and rinse the cart in hot weather.

How tall can my grass get before it's a violation?

Section 302.4 of the San Antonio Property Maintenance Code sets the limit at 12 inches for weeds and plant growth, with some exceptions.

How often does the city pick up brush?

The services guide says curbside brush and bulky collection each come twice a year, with notice 7 to 10 days ahead. Check the city's current schedule for your address.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Rules change, so check the source before you rely on it.