Environmental & Extension Services - Solid Waste Division

Frequently Asked Questions about Solid Waste Billing

Information on Charlotte County’s Solid Waste Billing Operations:

Question #1: Is the entire county included in the assessment program?
Answer: No. The assessment program includes all of unincorporated Charlotte County. The exclusions are the City of Punta Gorda.

Question #2: Are only residential customers included in the assessment or other customer types as well?
Answer: Assessments for Solid Waste collection are solely residential.
Commercial customers are billed directly by the franchise hauler.
Each residential dwelling is assessed based on the number of units; a single family home is assessed as one unit, a duplex would be charged two assessments, a condo complex would be assessed based on the number of units. (Each unit in a condo has their own Tax Collector account and each is assessed for sanitation on their tax bill.)

Question #3: Are the haulers franchised?
Answer: The Charlotte County’s Board of County Commissioners has franchisee agreements with the hauler.

Question #4: Mandatory collection?
Answer: Yes, every residential unit is assessed for curbside solid waste services.
Commercial businesses have an option; use the franchised hauler or haul their own. Businesses can not hire a private hauler. Construction & Demolition Debris is accepted and non-franchised haulers are permitted to haul their own.

Question #5: Is the assessment included on the county property tax bill as non ad-valorem special assessment?
Answer: Yes, each County tax notice includes a line identifying their Sanitation District’s assessment fee.

Question #6: Who is responsible for maintaining the database of the assessed properties?
Answer: This is a joint partnership with many contributing agencies: GIS/Municipal Service Benefits Unit Department updates and maintains an inventory of the assessed units. GIS/MSBU works closely with Building Construction Services building division, the Property Appraiser’s Office and Tax Collector’s office on updating and maintaining an accurate unit count for the sanitation districts.

 

Additional information can be obtained from the following governmental agencies:
Growth Management: 941.743.1238
GIS/MSBU: 941.743.1383
Property Appraiser’s Office: 941.743.1470
Solid Waste Division: 941.764.4380
Tax Collector: 941.743.1556