Albemarle County, VA Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- County Code § 13-300
- Covers
- Public property, highways, right-of-way, private property
- Default penalty
- Up to $2,500 fine or 12 months jail
- Court alternative
- Litter-removal volunteer service in lieu of conviction
- Vehicle owner presumption
- Owner/operator presumed responsible for ejected loads
Summary
County Code § 13-300 makes it unlawful in Albemarle County outside Charlottesville and Scottsville to dump refuse or other unsightly matter on public property, a public highway or right-of-way, or on private property without the written consent of the owner, and it is enforced as a misdemeanor.
Sec. 13-300 - Dumping waste on public property, a public highway, right-of-way, or on private property. A.It shall be unlawful for any person to dump or otherwise dispose of refuse or other unsightly matter on public property, including a public highway, right-of-way, property adjacent to such highway or right-of-way, or on private property without the written consent of the owner thereof or his agent. ... D.Any person convicted of violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable as provided in section 1-301 of the Code, at the court's discretion, in lieu of a criminal conviction it may permit the person to volunteer his services for a reasonable period of time to remove litter from the highway.
Full Breakdown
County Code § 13-300 prohibits dumping or otherwise disposing of refuse or other unsightly matter on public property, including a public highway or right-of-way and property adjacent to it, and on private property unless the owner or the owner's agent has given written consent. 2-936 in making the arrest. If a violation is only observed, not caught in the act, and the refuse was ejected or removed from a vehicle, the vehicle's owner or operator is presumed to be the person responsible, though that presumption can be rebutted with competent evidence.
00 and up to twelve months in jail. At the court's discretion, in lieu of a criminal conviction, a violator may instead be permitted to volunteer a reasonable period of service removing litter from the highway. 00 in a 12-month period for repeated violations.
Violations & Fines
Illegal dumping under § 13-300 is a misdemeanor punishable under the default class 1 misdemeanor scale in County Code §§ 1-301 and 1-302: up to $2,500.00 in fines and up to twelve months in jail. Courts may substitute a term of litter-removal volunteer service for a criminal conviction at their discretion. Related accumulation on private property draws separate civil penalties up to $3,000.00 under § 13-302(E).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to dump trash on someone else's land in Albemarle County?
Can I let trash pile up on my own property in Albemarle County?
What happens if trash is thrown from my car on a county road?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Albemarle County
Compare Albemarle County to another location·View the Virginia trash & recycling overview
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