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Pima County, AZ Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)

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

Key Facts

Dumping violation class
Class 2 misdemeanor, § 7.29.050(B)
Other § 7.29.040 violations
Class 3 misdemeanor
Civil penalty
Up to $500 per day
Responsible parties
Generator, landlord, tenant, and landowner
Presumption trigger
3+ items ID same person in dump pile
Governing section
Pima County Code § 7.29.040(C)

Summary

Pima County Code § 7.29.040(C) makes it unlawful to dump, deposit or dispose of solid waste anywhere in the county other than an approved site, and a violation is a Class 2 misdemeanor under Section 7.29.050(B), with civil penalties up to five hundred dollars a day on top of any criminal fine.

City-specific rules exist: Sahuarita, and Tucson have their own illegal dumping rules that differ from Pima County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

C. It is unlawful for a person to dump, deposit or dispose of solid waste any place within the county other than at an approved site. D. It is unlawful to dispose of industrial waste at the HHWCP. Commercial waste may be disposed after registration with HHWCP. E. It is unlawful to provide inaccurate information regarding generator status or waste stream analysis.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-64: Contains Supplement, with local legislation through Ordinance 2026-9, passed 7-28-2026, current through 7-28-2026).

Full Breakdown

040 lists five unlawful acts, with the core dumping ban quoted below. 030 or holds a state permit. 030: the person who generated the waste stays on the hook until it reaches an approved site or a permitted contractor, a landlord and tenant are both responsible for waste on a leased premises unless one acted outside the other's knowledge, and the owner of the land where waste ends up is responsible even if it was dumped without the owner's consent. 030(D) creates a rebuttable presumption that person is responsible for the dumping, a tool the department uses to trace mail, packages and paperwork found at illegal dump sites back to a responsible party. 010, ties the rule to preserving public health, comfort, welfare and safety by regulating uncontrolled solid waste disposal countywide.

Violations & Fines

Section 7.29.050 grades the penalties by which part of Section 7.29.040 was violated: dumping waste outside an approved site (subsection C) is a Class 2 misdemeanor, while storing waste as a hazard, unlicensed hauling, disposing of industrial waste at the HHWCP, or supplying inaccurate generator information (subsections A, B, D and E) are each Class 3 misdemeanors. Any violation of the chapter also carries a civil penalty of up to five hundred dollars, with each day of continued violation counted as a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the penalty for illegal dumping in unincorporated Pima County?
Dumping, depositing or disposing of solid waste anywhere other than an approved site is a Class 2 misdemeanor under Section 7.29.050(B). The county can also pursue a separate civil penalty of up to five hundred dollars for each day the violation continues, on top of any criminal fine or jail time from the misdemeanor charge.
Can I be fined for dumping I did not know was on my land?
Yes. Section 7.29.030(E) makes the property owner responsible for complying with the dumping rules even if the solid waste was placed there without the owner's knowledge or consent, though the county typically pursues the actual dumper first if the evidence identifies one.
How does the county figure out who dumped trash illegally?
If three or more items in the dumped material identify the same person as the owner or intended recipient, mail, bills, or packages, Section 7.29.030(D) creates a rebuttable presumption that person is responsible for the illegal dumping, shifting the burden to that person to prove otherwise.
Are landlords responsible for a tenant's illegal dumping?
Both can be. Section 7.29.030(B) holds landlord and tenant jointly responsible for solid waste generated, stored or received on a leased property, unless one of them proves the violation happened outside their actual or constructive knowledge and was solely the other party's doing.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Pima County

Collection ScheduleSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Quiet HoursSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Chickens & LivestockSome RestrictionsPickup Rules & SchedulesSome RestrictionsRecycling RequirementsSome RestrictionsDumpster RulesSome RestrictionsBin Placement RulesSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Vehicle NoiseSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningLight RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Wildlife Rescue PermitsLight Restrictions

All Pima County rules

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