Ann Arbor, MI Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Ann Arbor City Code § 2:10
- Prohibited
- Waste stored outside permitted locations
- Liable parties
- Owner, landlord, tenant, agent, occupant
- First-offense fine
- $200 civil infraction
- Tenant pass-through cap
- $200 to $1,000 by offense
Summary
Ann Arbor prohibits storing or leaving solid waste or containers anywhere but permitted locations, including the public right-of-way, under City Code Chapter 26: with escalating fines for repeat violations.
No person shall store solid waste or solid waste containers on property except at locations as permitted by this chapter or the solid waste regulations. No person shall permit solid waste or solid waste containers to remain on or in the right-of-way adjacent to the property in violation of this section.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 26 Update 4).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 26 bars leaving solid waste or solid waste containers anywhere except the locations the chapter or the city's solid waste regulations allow, including the right-of-way next to a property. Every property owner, landlord, tenant, occupant, or agent can be held individually responsible for the same violation. Landlords who pass fines through to tenants are capped at $200 for a first violation, $400 for a second, and $1,000 for later violations during a tenancy, and must give tenants a copy of the section separately from the lease.
Violations & Fines
Illegal storage or dumping of solid waste is a civil infraction under Chapter 26 § 2:12: $200 for a first offense, $400 for a second, up to $1,000 for later offenses within 5 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dumping trash outside approved containers illegal in Ann Arbor?
Can an Ann Arbor landlord bill a tenant for an illegal dumping fine?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ann Arbor
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