How to get rid of a couch in Fresno, CA

Request your free One-Time Bulky Item Pickup through 311 or the FresGO app. Solid Waste calls within 7 business days with a date; set the couch out no more than 36 hours ahead and by 6 a.m. that day.

Last checked against the official City of Fresno Department of Public Utilities, Solid Waste Management Division website. See sources.

Cost
Free once a year
How
311, (559) 621-2489 or FresGO
Also
Free Dump Event, Nov 14 and 15

The last Fall 2026 Free Dump Event at CARTS is Saturday and Sunday, November 14 and 15, 2026, 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Option 1: City pickup (One-Time Bulky Item Pickup (free once a year) and Operation Clean Up)

Who can use it

  • For City of Fresno residential solid waste customers whose account is in good standing.
  • One-Time Bulky Item Pickup: once per year per account; more than a year must have passed since your last bulky pickup.

How to book

  1. Call 311, (559) 621-CITY (2489), or use the FresGO app to request a One-Time Bulky Item Pickup.
  2. Solid Waste calls you within 7 business days to confirm a pickup date.
  3. Extra pickups in the same year are a paid Special Haul; call (559) 621-6888. Your annual Operation Clean Up date is on the City's lookup tool or from 311.

Couch rules

  • Couch/sofa, chairs and recliners are on the accepted list.
  • Place it 1 to 1.5 feet from the curb in front of your home, clear of vehicles.

Setting it out

  • Set the item out no more than 36 hours before your scheduled date, and by 6 a.m. on the day.
  • Place it 1 to 1.5 feet from the curb in front of your home, where your carts are serviced, away from sewer vents, water meters, mailboxes and fire hydrants, and 4 to 5 feet from speed bumps. Keep it clear of vehicles.
  • Only requested pickups are collected; other piles are treated as illegal dumping and cited.
  • Not accepted: refrigerators and freezers, tires, electronic waste, household hazardous waste, household garbage, automotive parts and batteries.

Fees and limits

  • One-Time Bulky Item Pickup: free once a year.
  • Special Haul: fee set in the City's Master Fee Schedule (30-minute minimum, 1-hour maximum).
  • Free Dump Events at CARTS: free for City residential solid waste customers, one full-size pickup truck load (about 8 x 4 x 4 ft) per household.

Option 2: Drop it off yourself

  • Couches are accepted at the City's Free Dump Events at CARTS (next: November 14 and 15, 2026).
  • Free Dump Events, Cedar Avenue Recycling and Transfer Station (CARTS), 3457 S. Cedar Ave. Fall 2026 dates: September 12 and 13, October 17 and 18, and November 14 and 15, 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Bring a City of Fresno utility bill (or the City's Proof of Eligibility Form) and a state-issued ID. Accepted items include appliances, couches, mattresses and box springs.

Option 3: Donate or give it away

  • The City encourages donating reusable furniture. Habitat's national guidance: furniture should be gently used or like new. Check with your local ReStore first.

Donation rules are set by each charity and can change. Call before you load up.

What we could not confirm

  • The City's pages do not list the Special Haul price; it is in the Master Fee Schedule. Call (559) 621-6888.

Common questions

Does Fresno pick up couches for free?
Yes, once a year per account through the One-Time Bulky Item Pickup.
What if I already used my free pickup this year?
Extra pickups are a paid Special Haul; call (559) 621-6888. You can also use Operation Clean Up or a Free Dump Event.
Can I just leave it out?
No. Only requested pickups are collected; other piles are cited as illegal dumping.

Sources

Last checked Oct 27, 2026. We read each page below on that date.

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