Resolving Common Neighborhood Complaints

Below are the most common neighborhood-based issues. For concerns or issues not addressed here, call the City at 373-CITY (2489). 

Garbage Collection

Timing Remember the "Rule of 7." Roll your green garbage container and your brown recycling container to the curb no earlier than 7 pm the night before pick-up; have your container at the curb by 7 am the day of pick-up; and roll your containers back to your residence by 7 pm on your collection day.

Trash ContainersTo ensure collection, place your roll-out containers at least five feet apart from one another and away from vehicles and mailboxes. Low-hanging tree limbs near the container can prevent pick-up, so be sure your container can be accessed safely and easily.

RecyclingThe following items can be placed in your brown container: all plastic bottles and jugs, aluminum, steel and aerosol cans, newspapers, magazines, office paper, clean cardboard/chipboard, and rigid plastics such as buckets and milk crates. No pizza boxes, please! Read more.

Bulky Items
Items that are too large to fit in your empty green garbage can (such as furniture, mattresses, or rolled carpet) may be placed at the curb for pick-up. Items that are too large for two people to lift or items larger than the space available in the garbage truck cannot be picked up. Bulky items are picked up every other week on the same day as your recycling.

Large AppliancesFor collection of discarded appliances, call 373-CITY (2489) to schedule a pick up. The City’s appliance truck can collect washers, dryers, refrigerators, water heaters, air conditioning units, and other large appliances.

Grass ClippingsPlace grass clippings in clear plastic bags (no heavier than 50 pounds) or in a 32-gallon trash can by the curb.

Tree LimbsCut tree limbs into five-foot sections so they can be removed and disposed of safely. Bundle sticks and twigs with string or twine and place them by the curb. Be sure they weigh less than 50 pounds.

Household Hazardous WasteNever put batteries, paint, paint thinner, pesticides, chemicals, cleaners, bleach, solvents, automotive products, or poisons in the trash. You can dispose of these at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center at 2750 Patterson Street. There is no charge. Hours are Wednesday-Friday, 10 am to 6 pm and Saturday from 8 am to 2 pm.

Pets

FeedingIf you feed your pet outside, it's always a good idea to take the food bowl and any uneaten food back into the house. Leaving pet food outside overnight attracts rodents that can harbor dangerous diseases.

BarkingIf you have a complaint about a neighbor’s pet, be sure to communicate that concern to your neighbor before calling Guilford County’s Animal Control division; your neighbor may be unaware of your concerns. If your neighbor is unresponsive to your concerns, call Guilford County Animal Control at 641-5990. (Information about County service is provided as a courtesy and is subject to change.)

LeashGreensboro has a leash law — keep your pet on a leash and do not allow the animal to roam freely.

Music

Household MusicWhen music is too loud, it interferes with the rights of others to enjoy peace and quiet. The City has a noise ordinance that prohibits music and other audible noises from being heard outside a house after 11 pm. If music can be heard outside your front door, it is probably too loud and the volume should be lowered.

Vehicular MusicMusic played in vehicles must not be audible from 30 feet away.

Parking / Speeding in Neighborhoods

Cars and Other Motor VehiclesThese suggestions about motor vehicles can help you avoid neighborhood complaints. Park vehicles so they can comfortably fit on the parking pad or in the driveway. Parking vehicles on your lawn can cause environmental pollution to the groundwater. Note: Vehicles must have both a current tag and be able to start in order to be legal.

RVs and Commercial/Service VehiclesWhen parked on the street or on the lawn, recreation vehicles (RVs), and commercial/service trucks or other vehicles should present a visual hazard to drivers. For this reason, you should avoid parking large vehicles on the street or on your lawn.

Speeding and Neighborhood ‘Cut Throughs’
The speed limit for residential streets in the City is 25 miles per hour unless otherwise posted; this is the maximum safe speed on a neighborhood street. Drivers who "cut through" neighborhoods to access a major road are the source of many complaints. Greensboro’s major thoroughfares are designed to handle large traffic volumes; do not disrupt neighborhoods by "cutting through" them to save time.

Streetlights and Traffic Lights

Reporting a Malfunctioning Streetlight or Traffic LightMalfunctioning, broken or damaged streetlights or traffic signals should be reported to the City by calling 373-CITY (2489).

Other Neighborhood Concerns

GraffitiReport all graffiti to the City by calling 373-CITY (2489). Property owners are responsible for removing graffiti found on their premises.

Vacant and Boarded BuildingsVacant houses that are boarded up may remain vacant indefinitely as long as the structure is secured and in good repair. Vacant houses that are not boarded up or properly secured can attract crime. If there is a vacant house in your neighborhood that needs attention, call 373-CITY (2489) or report it online.

FencesA variety of materials is allowed for fencing. Regardless of the material, all fences should be in good repair.

Grass HeightGrass over 12 inches tall is a violation of City code. If a lawn in your neighborhood has high grass, call 373-CITY (2489) or report it online.