Arlington County, VA Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)

Chapter 10, Article III of the Arlington County Code governs litter and illegal dumping countywide; because Arlington has no incorporated towns, this article is the only local dumping law in effect at every address. Section 10-23 defines litter broadly to include garbage, trash, refuse, construction material, motor vehicle parts, furniture, oil, and the carcass of a dead animal, and it defines public property to reach streets, medians, sidewalks, alleys, parks, County housing grounds, and waterways, and private property to reach yards, driveways, parking areas, storage areas, and vacant lots.

Section 10-24, Littering Prohibited, makes it unlawful to drop, cast, deposit, discard, or otherwise dispose of litter on any of that exterior public or private property, with the single exception of placing it in a public litter receptacle, or a private receptacle offered for public use, in a manner that keeps it from blowing or falling back out. Section 10-25 separately requires anyone hauling loose material on a public way to cover or tightly secure the load, and if material spills or blows loose anyway, the hauler must immediately gather and remove it.

Section 10-26 places an ongoing duty on the person controlling a loading or unloading area, and on the owner, agent, or contractor of a construction, development, or utility work site, to keep the area free of litter and furnish receptacles that prevent scattering; occupants and owners of any property, including parking lots, are separately responsible for clearing litter that could endanger public health or safety. 00. The article traces to Ordinance No. 85-41, adopted November 16, 1985, and remains the operative litter and dumping law as of the June 2026 code update.