Got an Arlington Code Notice for Junk or Rodents? Here's What It Means
Last updated: October 14, 2026
An Arlington code compliance notice for junk, trash, or rodents falls under the city's nuisance chapter, where unclean premises carry fines up to $2,000 and outside storage carries fines up to $500. Every day the problem stays counts as its own offense. Here's what the code covers and how to clear it before the deadline.
The Short Answer
Clear everything the notice describes from the yard, porch, carport, driveway, and unsecured garage before the deadline, and get rid of whatever is giving rodents food or shelter outside. Then tell the code officer the work is done. A hoard inside the house is a separate problem, but it feeds what shows up outside, so plan for both.
What the Arlington Nuisance Code Covers
The Arlington nuisance code covers three conditions that hoarded homes run into most.
| Section | What it covers | Maximum fine |
|---|---|---|
| 2.02(B) Unclean Premises | Accumulations of refuse, garbage, rubbish, junk, and waste; odors from waste and fecal matter; conditions that harbor rodents or parasitic insects | $2,000 |
| 2.02(K) Abandoned appliances | Broken or abandoned appliances in a front, rear, or side yard, on porches, or in unsecured garages | $500 |
| 2.02(M) Outside storage | Discarded indoor furniture, appliances, trash, and materials that attract vermin stored outside an enclosed structure, including under a carport | $500 |
Each day a violation continues is a separate offense under both fine levels.
How to Clear the Violation Fast
Clearing a code violation fast means working outside first. First, read the notice and list every item and area it names. Second, clear the yard, porch, driveway, and carport, since those are what the inspector sees from the street. Third, deal with appliances: anything left outside before pickup should have its door strapped shut or removed. Finally, call the code officer to confirm the property now meets the code.
Where All of It Can Go
Arlington's curbside bulk pickup won't move a hoard's worth of junk on a deadline. Republic Services collects bulk on recycling day at 1 cubic yard per service day, one item at a time. The city's guide also says curbside trash over 2 cubic yards on a collection day is removed after 24 hours and billed to the owner. For larger loads, the Arlington Landfill on Mosier Valley Road charges residents $21 per load under 8 feet and $41 per ton for longer loads, and eligible homeowners get three free drop-offs a year. Paint, chemicals, and pesticides go to the Environmental Collection Center in Fort Worth, free for Arlington residents.
When the Problem Starts Inside
A code case about the outside of a home can point to a hoard inside it. Rodents that harbor in a yard are feeding somewhere, and the furniture under the carport came out of the house for a reason. If the inside of the home has piles blocking rooms, droppings, waste, or odor, the outside cleanup buys time but doesn't solve it. We clear the outside first when a notice has a deadline, then move room by room through the house.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the fine for junk in the yard in Arlington?
The fine follows the section the violation falls under. Accumulations of junk, rubbish, refuse, and waste, along with conditions that harbor rodents, fall under unclean premises, with fines up to $2,000. Couches, chairs, and appliances kept outdoors or under a carport count as outside storage, a lower tier capped at $500. A new citation can follow for each additional day.
Does Arlington code compliance inspect inside homes?
The city's single-family code compliance guide covers exterior conditions, such as yards, porches, carports, driveways, and securing vacant structures. It doesn't describe interior inspections. The conditions inside a hoarded home still matter, though, because they're what produce the rodents, odor, and outside storage the code does cover. Clearing the inside keeps the outside from filling back up.
Can I put a hoard's worth of junk at the curb in Arlington?
Not all at once. Arlington's bulk collection takes 1 cubic yard per service day on your recycling day, one bulk item at a time. Pile more than 2 cubic yards at the curb on one collection day, and the city removes it after 24 hours and sends the owner the bill. Anything bigger belongs at the city landfill, where qualifying homeowners have three no-cost visits each year.
What counts as outside storage in Arlington?
Outside storage means keeping objectionable items outdoors instead of inside a closed building, and a carport or overhang still counts as outdoors. The list includes broken or discarded indoor furniture, appliances, and machines, building materials, leaking containers, used auto parts, trash, and materials that attract vermin. Firewood has to be raised at least 12 inches off the ground. Items properly set out for sanitation pickup are an exception.
How fast can a hoarded property be cleared for a code deadline?
The outside of a property, including the yard, porch, carport, and driveway, can be cleared in a day or two when the volume is moderate. The inside takes longer and gets planned room by room. When a notice has a deadline, we schedule the outside first and price both parts in the written estimate.
Get a Free Estimate in Arlington
With a code notice in hand for a hoarded property, call 123-456-7890 and book a free walkthrough. We'll clear what the notice covers first. Read about our odor removal work, or see our full hoarding cleanup in Arlington service.