Donation Containers

Authority

The Burleson City Council adopted Ordinance CSO#5937-10-2025 on October 6, 2025, regulating donation containers within the city.

Key Points to the Ordinance

Defines "donation container" as any unattended drop-off box, container, trailer or other receptacle that is intended for use as a collection point for accepting donated textiles, clothing, shoes, books, toys, dishes, household items, or other salvageable items of personal property. However, the term “Donation Container” does not include donation boxes. Donation containers shall have four (4) walls, a roof and a floor, and shall not exceed 512 cubic feet or the dimensions of 8-foot width x 8-foot depth x 8-foot height
Limits one donation container per commercial property and establishes restrictions on size, location, signage, material and color.
Does not grandfather any donation container; all existing and new donation containers are required to comply with this regulation.
Establishes new annual permits, fees, and maintenance requirements.
Holds jointly liable both the permit holder and the property owner for the maintenance, upkeep, and servicing of the donation bin, including cleanup and removal of donations left outside the donation bin, within twenty-four (24) hours of notification by the city.
Establishes new procedures and fees for removal and impoundment of donation bins.

Fees

Annual permit: $100
Impoundment: Costs incurred by the city for the impoundment
Daily storage of impounded bins: $20 per day

*If a donation container is impounded for longer than fifteen (15) calendar days, it shall be considered abandoned property subject to disposal or sale at the City’s sole discretion.

FAQs

To whom does this ordinance apply?

Donation containers equal to or larger than forty (40) cubic feet in volume must apply for and obtain a permit.
Donation containers smaller than forty (40) cubic feet in volume do not require a permit.

How do I apply for a permit?

Fill out the Donation Container Permit Application and submit via email. The application includes a form and requires the authorization from the property owner where the donation container will be located.

How will Code Enforcement know if a donation container has a permit or not?

Permit holders will receive a decal that must be clearly displayed on the FRONT of the container.

What are the design standards for a donation container?

Read Ordinance CSO#5937-10-2025 for exact language. General description provided below.

Must have four walls, a roof, and a floor; cannot exceed 512 cubic feet (8’W x 8’D x 8’H).
Must be heavy and stable enough to resist wind and tipping.
Must have a secure, locked receiving door to prevent unauthorized access.
Must display the operator’s contact information (name, phone, email, website) in two-inch letters.
Must display a notice that all donations must fit inside the container.
Must be painted a single solid color (no fluorescent colors). Trade dress or logos are allowed.

Can I have more than one donation container?

No more than one (1) donation container may be located on a single platted lot or unplatted tract of land. In the case of a shopping center or office development that consists of multiple platted lots, the administrator shall treat the center or office development as if it is only one contiguous lot.

Where can I place a donation container?

Must be behind the required building line setbacks.
Donation containers must be placed on a lot which contains an occupied building.
Cannot be located closer than 300 feet from another container.
Cannot impede traffic or visually impair any motor vehicle drivers from a public street and cannot interfere with visibility triangles or on-site vehicle or pedestrian circulation. Cannot be located in any required landscape required area.
Cannot be located in any fire lane.
Cannot be located in any parking space required to meet the minimum parking requirements for a site.
Cannot impede the functioning of exhaust, ventilation, or fire extinguishing systems.
Cannot be located in any platted or dedicated access easement.
The operator of each donation container shall keep the real property situated within twenty-five (25) feet of the location of a donation container clean and free of trash, debris, broken glass, clothes hangers, clothes, clothing accessories or excess donations.

If I allow a donation container to be placed at my business, am I responsible for it?

The registrant, owner, agent, lessee or any other person in control of the property where the donation collection container is located and the person or entity which owns, maintains, or operates the donation collection container shall be jointly liable.
A donation container operator or the real property owner, property owner’s designated agent, property manager, or property’s lawful occupant listed on the permit application that fails to maintain the cleanliness of the surrounding real property may receive a notice of violation from the city. If the city elects to send a notice of violation to the email address on file for the operator, the operator shall have twenty-four (24) hours to remedy the complaint. Failure to comply with a notice of violation may result in the issuance of a citation by the city. An operator who is issued more than one (1) citation in a twelve (12) month period for the same offense on the same donation container is subject to revocation of the approval for such donation container.

What about Blessing Boxes? 

Blessing Boxes and neighborhood library boxes are types of donation bins. They do not require a permit ONLY if they are smaller than 40 cubic feet.