Fresno County, CA Code Violation Reporting: How to Report (2026)
Key Facts
- Reward amount
- Up to 25% of collected penalty
- Reward cap
- $1,000 per case
- Multiple informants
- Reward split equally
- Who decides
- Enforcement Officer, decision is final
- Governing section
- Fresno County Code § 8.22.170
Summary
Fresno County pays cash rewards to residents who report illegal dumping. Section 8.22.170 of the county code lets anyone whose tip leads to a fully collected citation, order or judgment for illegal dumping or littering collect up to 25 percent of the penalty amount, capped at $1,000 per case.
Any person who provides information which results in a fully collected administrative citation(s), final administrative order, or final judgment of a violation of the provisions of this chapter, may be entitled to a reward by the county up to 25% of the amount of any administrative citation(s) or civil penalty which has been fully collected in the same case.B.No reward paid pursuant to this section shall exceed $1,000.00. If more than one person provides information, the reward shall be equally divided between such persons.C.The determination of an entitlement to reward shall be solely within the discretion of the Enforcement Officer whose determination shall be final and conclusive. (Ord. No. 24-008, § 1, 6-4-2024)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51).
Full Breakdown
22. The reward is calculated as up to 25 percent of the administrative citation or civil penalty actually collected in that case, so a $1,000 citation for a standard violation could generate up to $250, while a $3,000 Major Violation penalty could generate up to $750. 170(B) caps any single reward at $1,000 regardless of how large the underlying penalty is, and if more than one person supplies information leading to the same collected penalty, the reward is split equally between them. 170(C) leaves the actual decision whether a tip qualifies for a reward entirely to the Enforcement Officer's discretion, and that determination is final.
020(E) as any county employee designated by the county administrative officer or department director to enforce the code, and also expressly includes regular full-time employees of the Sheriff-Coroner's office. 100 before a reward can be paid out.
Violations & Fines
There is no penalty for reporting; reward payment depends on the county's Enforcement Officer determining the tip led to a fully collected citation, order or judgment, and that determination is final and cannot be appealed under Section 8.22.170(C). No reward is paid on citations that are contested, reduced or never collected.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I report illegal dumping in unincorporated Fresno County?
How much can I get paid for reporting illegal dumping?
Do I get paid as soon as I report someone?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fresno County
California rules heatmap·Compare Fresno County to another location·View the California code violation reporting overview
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