Anderson County, SC Trash & Recycling: Dumpster Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Dumpster setback rule
- no sightline blockage from ROW
- Nuisance buffer
- not close enough to cause odor/sanitation issue
- Enforcement
- environmental enforcement officer
- Correction notice
- 15 days to fix (§ 20-31)
- Penalty add-on
- 5+ hours litter-gathering labor
Summary
Anderson County requires publicly patronized businesses, from fast food outlets to shopping centers and hospitals, to provide litter receptacles, and specifically requires dumpsters to sit far enough from public roads to preserve sightlines and far enough from neighboring buildings to avoid becoming a nuisance.
Placement of large receptacles. Litter receptacles such as dumpsters must be situated at a reasonable distance from public thoroughfares to prevent blockage of view from state or county rights-of-way. Further, dumpsters must not be located so close to another building, residence or establishment as to create a nuisance by odor, sanitation or health concern for such business, residence or establishment.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 2).
Full Breakdown
Section 20-26(a) obligates owners of establishments including fast food outlets, shopping centers, convenience stores, supermarkets, service stations, commercial parking lots, motels, hospitals, schools, colleges, and universities to provide and maintain litter receptacles on their premises to prevent litter from pedestrians and motorists. Section 20-26(b) singles out large receptacles such as dumpsters: they must sit a reasonable distance from public thoroughfares so they do not block the view from a state or county right-of-way, and they cannot be placed so close to another building, residence, or establishment that they create a nuisance from odor, sanitation, or health concerns.
C. Code 1976 § 4-9-145. Related sections 20-27 and 20-28 bar depositing business waste into another party's receptacle without the county solid waste director's permission and bar leaving trash, garbage, or solid waste exposed and visible from a public road or adjoining property for more than 15 days, both of which the county's regulatory compliance and environmental enforcement officers can enforce through inspection under section 20-30 and correction orders under section 20-31.
Violations & Fines
Violating the litter control article is a misdemeanor under section 20-29, punishable per section 1-7, and courts may impose a minimum of five hours of litter-gathering labor or other public service per offense in addition to any fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can a business put its dumpster in Anderson County?
Which businesses must provide litter receptacles?
What happens if a dumpster becomes a nuisance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anderson County
Compare Anderson County to another location·View the South Carolina trash & recycling overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.