Upper Darby, PA Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Prohibited act
- Depositing litter on any vacant lot
- Who can cite
- DPW, L&I, Fire Marshal, Health Dir., police
- Max penalty
- $1,000 for safety-code litter violations
- Continuing violation
- Each 24-hour period a separate offense
Summary
Upper Darby bans dumping litter on any open or vacant private lot, occupied or not, under Section 358-10 of the Township's litter ordinance. A Department of Public Works, Licenses and Inspections, Fire Marshal or Public Health official, or any police officer, must issue a citation once they spot a violation.
§ 358-10. Litter on vacant lots. No person shall throw or deposit litter on any open or vacant private property within the Township, whether owned by such person or not.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 358's litter ordinance treats vacant land the same as any other private lot. " That means both the person who dumps trash on an empty lot and, separately under Section 358-9, the owner who lets litter accumulate can be cited. Section 358-11 gives citation authority to the Director of Public Works, the Director of Licenses and Inspections, the Fire Marshal, the Director of Public Health, or "any police officer" who observes a violation; any of them "shall" issue a citation once a violation is brought to their attention.
Enforcement runs through a civil complaint under the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure rather than criminal court. The ordinance sits alongside companion sections banning litter in streets and gutters (Sections 358-2, 358-3), from moving vehicles (Section 358-4), in parks (Section 358-6), and on occupied private and commercial premises (Sections 358-7, 358-8), so a vacant lot gets exactly the same no-dumping treatment as a maintained yard or a Township street.
Violations & Fines
Violations tied to building, housing, property maintenance, health, fire or public safety carry a civil penalty of up to $1,000 plus prosecution costs and the Township's attorneys' fees; any other litter violation carries up to $600 (Section 358-12A). Each day a violation continues past 24 hours, and each separate section violated, counts as its own offense (Section 358-12B).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dumping trash on an empty lot illegal in Upper Darby even if I don't own it?
Who enforces the vacant lot litter rule?
What's the fine for littering on a vacant lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Upper Darby
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