Weld County, CO Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- County ordinance
- WCC § 14-1-20 (Ord. 2000-1)
- First-offense fine
- $50-$100 mandatory
- Repeat fines
- Up to $300
- Covers
- Roadsides, waters, farm/ranch land
- State law
- CRS 18-4-511
Summary
Weld County's littering ordinance makes it unlawful to deposit, throw or leave any litter on public or private property in the unincorporated county, on roadsides, waters, or farm and ranch land. A first offense carries a mandatory fine of $50-$100.
It shall be unlawful for any person to deposit, throw or leave, or to allow, sanction, suffer or permit any person to deposit, throw or leave any litter on any public or private property or in any waters within the County, except those portions of the County which are within the limits of any incorporated municipality.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Charter and County Code: Supplement 95).
Full Breakdown
Illegal dumping in unincorporated Weld County is handled through the county's littering ordinance (Chapter 14, Article I) and Colorado's littering statute. Section 14-1-20 makes it unlawful for any person to deposit, throw or leave litter on any public or private property or waters within the county, outside incorporated towns. 'Litter' covers rubbish, waste, refuse, garbage, trash and debris, and applies to road rights-of-way, waterways, and residential, farm or ranch land. Greeley separately bans depositing refuse so as to become a nuisance and prohibits throwing or sweeping refuse into any street, alley or vacant lot. Both mirror the state statute CRS 18-4-511.
Violations & Fines
Weld County littering is a Class 2 petty offense with a mandatory fine of $50-$100 (first), $100-$200 (second) and $175-$300 (third), plus possible court-ordered litter cleanup (§ 14-1-40).
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the penalty for dumping trash in Weld County?
Where does the county littering rule apply?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Weld County
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