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Prince George's County, MD Trash & Recycling: Bulk Item Disposal (2026)

Heavy Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Banned
dumping furniture, appliances, abandoned vehicles off-site
Criminal penalty
misdemeanor, up to 30 days jail
Fine
up to $5,000
Applies to
unincorporated county, public & private property
Enforcing office
Director, Dept. of Permitting, Inspections & Enforcement
Cleanup billing
tax-bill lien after 30 days unpaid

Summary

Dumping furniture, appliances, or an abandoned vehicle anywhere in Prince George's County outside a state- or county-designated disposal site is a misdemeanor under Sec. 13-265(c), punishable on conviction by up to 30 days in jail, a $5,000 fine, or both.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Prince George's County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

(1)...it is a violation of this Division for any person to dispose of a bulky item on public or private property unless the property is designated by the State, a unit of the State, or a political subdivision of the State for the disposal of bulky items and the person is authorized by the proper public authority to use the property.(2)"Bulky item" means any discarded furniture, home or industrial appliance, or abandoned vehicle or part of an abandoned vehicle not designated for disposal purposes under the laws of Prince George's county. "Bulky item" does not include discarding, dropping, or scattering of small quantities of waste matter ordinarily carried on or about the person...(3)A person who disposes of a bulky item in violation of this paragraph is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 30 days or a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 2026 Update 2).

Full Breakdown

Sec. 13-265(c)(2) defines a 'bulky item' as discarded furniture, a home or industrial appliance, or an abandoned vehicle or vehicle part not designated for disposal under county law, while excluding small litter someone would normally carry, like wrappers, cans, or newspapers. The ban itself, under Sec. 13-265(c)(1), forbids disposing of a bulky item on public or private property anywhere in the county unless the property is a site the State, a unit of the State, or a political subdivision has designated for bulky-item disposal and the person is authorized to use it.

Under Sec. 13-262, this Antilitter and Weed Ordinance applies to the county's unincorporated areas; it doesn't reach property inside an incorporated municipality unless that municipality separately adopts the same provisions and arranges for county enforcement and reimbursement. Beyond the criminal bulky-item ban, the county also runs a civil notice-and-cleanup track for general litter and weeds: the Director issues a written notice to remove under Sec. 13-266, the owner gets ten days to comply, and after that the county can perform the cleanup itself and bill the cost through a tax-bill lien under Sec. 13-268 and Sec. 13-269, with repeat commercial violators billed for cleanup crews every two weeks or once a month under Sec. 13-267(b).

Violations & Fines

A person who disposes of a bulky item is guilty of a misdemeanor under Sec. 13-265(c)(3), facing up to 30 days imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000, or both, on conviction. Separately, an owner who ignores a written notice to remove litter or weeds within ten days can be hit with a civil or administrative fine under Sec. 13-271, and the county can bill the owner for its own cleanup costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as a 'bulky item' under Prince George's County law?
Sec. 13-265(c)(2) defines it as discarded furniture, a home or industrial appliance, or an abandoned vehicle or vehicle part not designated for disposal under county law. It doesn't include small litter someone would normally carry, like wrappers, cans, or newspapers.
What's the penalty for dumping a couch or old appliance?
Sec. 13-265(c)(3) makes it a misdemeanor: a conviction carries up to 30 days in jail, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. That's on top of the separate civil notice-and-cleanup process the county can use for general litter and weeds under Sec. 13-266 through Sec. 13-269.
Does this rule apply inside cities like Bowie or Hyattsville?
No, not automatically. Sec. 13-262 says the Antilitter and Weed Ordinance applies to the unincorporated parts of the county, not property inside an incorporated municipality, unless that municipality adopts the same provisions and arranges for county enforcement and reimbursement.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Prince George's County

All Prince George's County rules

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