Trash Talk: What Every Resident in Our Portland, Maine Communities Needs to Know

by Kirsten Martin

Resident Notice & Reminder — Portland, Maine Communities

Trash Talk: What Every Resident in Our Portland, Maine Communities Needs to Know

Yes, even in buildings under 10 units — the City of Portland, Maine’s Building and Housing Code applies to us, and following it is a shared responsibility.

This notice applies specifically to our properties located within the City of Portland, Maine. Different towns and cities set their own rules, so residents at our other communities should refer to their local code instead.

It’s easy to assume the City’s trash and sanitation rules are really written for big apartment towers downtown. They’re not. Under the City of Portland, Maine’s Code of Ordinances, any building with more than two units qualifies as a “multiple dwelling” — which means every Portland community we manage, including our smaller buildings with fewer than 10 units, is fully subject to these requirements. This post walks through what the code actually asks of residents, what happens when it isn’t followed, and what you can do to help keep your building in good standing.

Why Following the Code Isn’t Optional

The City of Portland, Maine’s Housing Code (Chapter 6, Section 6-109) is specific about how trash has to be handled at every residential property in the city. The short version:

  • Garbage, rubbish, and ashes must be kept in separate, watertight containers with tight-fitting lids — one or more for garbage and food waste, one or more for rubbish and paper, and a separate metal container for ashes.
  • Plastic or paper bags and cardboard boxes do not count as containers under the code. If it’s not in a proper lidded can or bin, it’s a violation waiting to happen.
  • Containers must stay covered at all times — specifically to keep out flies, rats, and other pests.
  • Residents are required to place all garbage, rubbish, and waste in these containers and may not let trash pile up or sit out anywhere else on the property.
Three properly covered waste containers Garbage, rubbish, and ash containers shown closed, labeled, and checked off as compliant. Garbage lid closed Rubbish / Paper lid closed Ashes (metal) cold before disposal
Three separate, tightly covered containers — the baseline the code requires at every property.

The City doesn’t treat this as a minor housekeeping preference. Section 6-1.1 of the code specifically classifies unsanitary conditions tied to Section 6-109 — including overflowing or improperly covered trash — as a “significant code violation.” That’s the same category used for things like blocked exits or vermin infestations, and it comes with a much more serious enforcement response than a friendly reminder.

When a Fine Happens, Everyone Pays

Here’s the part that affects every resident directly, not just whoever left the lid open. Under Section 6-1 of the code, the City can assess monetary penalties on a per-day basis for as long as the violation exists — and the amounts escalate the longer it takes to fix:

Escalating daily penalties for uncorrected sanitation violations First citation two hundred to two thousand five hundred dollars per day. After written notice, five hundred to five thousand dollars per day. After a second notice, one thousand five hundred to ten thousand dollars per day. First citation $200 – $2,500 / day After written notice $500 – $5,000 / day After 2nd notice up to $10,000 / day Per Sec. 6-1, penalties accrue for every day the violation continues and are paid directly to the City.
Fine escalation for an uncorrected sanitation violation under Sec. 6-1 of the code.

These fines are paid straight to the City — not to us, and not to any one resident. When a citation like this lands on a building, it becomes a real operating cost for that property. Like any other shared building expense, that cost doesn’t stay with whoever caused it — it gets spread across everyone living there. That’s exactly why it takes all of us doing our part, every day, to avoid it altogether.

It’s Not Always Us — Report Unauthorized Dumping

Not every overflowing bin or pile of trash at your building started with a resident. Non-residents dumping furniture, bags, or bulk trash into or beside our containers is a real and recurring problem — and because the City doesn’t distinguish who put it there, it still counts against the building.

Reporting unauthorized dumping A pile of unauthorized trash next to a bin, flagged and reported by phone to the property manager. See it? Report it. Photo + time + location to your property manager
Snap a photo, note the time and location, and send it to your property manager right away.

If you see someone who isn’t a resident leaving trash at your building, please don’t just assume management already knows. Report it as soon as you see it:

  • Take a photo of the dumped items, if it’s safe to do so.
  • Note the date, time, and where it happened.
  • Send it to your property manager right away rather than waiting for your next visit or check-in.

The faster we know, the faster it gets cleaned up and documented — which matters if the City ever questions why a violation occurred at a well-managed property.

The City Is Watching Closely

Trash and sanitation enforcement in Portland, Maine isn’t a once-a-year, complaint-only process anymore. The City is actively monitoring waste areas at many of our buildings on an ongoing basis — in some cases checking in daily. That means a bin left open overnight, a bag set outside the container “just for today,” or trash that piles up over a weekend can be caught well before any resident or staff member ever notices it themselves.

Daily city monitoring of waste areas A magnifying glass inspecting a row of buildings and bins, representing frequent city checks.
Waste areas at many of our buildings are now being checked regularly — sometimes daily.

Because of that, consistent, day-to-day compliance matters more than ever. A building that’s tidy on move-in day and cluttered by Wednesday is exactly the pattern the City’s inspections are designed to catch.

Simple Habits That Keep Us Code-Compliant

None of this requires anything complicated — just consistency:

  • Close the lid. Every time. Overflowing or open containers are the single fastest way to trigger a citation.
  • Break down boxes before putting them in a container so it doesn’t overflow before collection day.
  • Never leave bagged trash beside the container. A bag on the ground isn’t a “container” under the code — it’s a violation.
  • Sort correctly using the labeled bins for garbage, rubbish/recycling, and ashes.
  • Handle bulky items properly. Large furniture or appliances don’t belong next to the bins — contact your property manager about proper disposal options.
  • Tell your guests and any subletters the same rules apply to them.
  • Report problems immediately — an overflowing bin, a missing lid, or dumped trash from a non-resident — rather than waiting.

Remember: because these violations attach to the building, one household’s shortcut can turn into a shared bill for every resident. A few extra seconds closing a lid or flattening a box protects everyone’s wallet, not just your own.

Questions, or something to report? Contact your property manager or put in a request through your tenant portal — if it’s urgent, don’t wait.

Source: City of Portland, Maine Code of Ordinances, Chapter 6 (Buildings and Building Regulations), Article I §§ 6-1, 6-1.1, and Article V §§ 6-106, 6-109. Applies to Portland, Maine properties only.