Aurora, CO Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 114-30
- Max fine
- $2,650 per offense
- Max jail
- 364 days
- Continuing violation
- each day is separate offense
- Enforcement
- city inspectors, municipal court
Summary
Dumping garbage, rubbish or debris on public or private property anywhere in Aurora, Colorado is unlawful, and violators face the city's general penalty of up to $2,650 in fines or 364 days in jail.
The dumping, placing of accumulation, within the limits of the City, of garbage, rubbish or debris on public or private property and upon the area from the street line in front and on the side of and to the center of the alley behind such private property by any person, whether in possession of the property or not, shall be unlawful.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to dispose of garbage, rubbish and debris in any area other than those areas designated by the director of public works. The director shall give notice of those areas designated for disposal by publishing notice in a local newspaper two successive times.
(c) It shall be unlawful for any person to deposit any garbage, refuse, trash, debris, or waste in a garbage, rubbish or debris storage container owned by another without the permission of the owner. (Code 1979, § 40-20; Ord. No. 99-07, § 7, 3-29-1999)
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-30, passed June 22, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Aurora City Code § 114-30 bars dumping or accumulating garbage, rubbish or debris on public or private property citywide, including the strip from the street to the alley center behind a lot, regardless of whether the dumper possesses the property. Disposal is confined to sites the director of public works designates and publishes notice of. No specific fine is written into Article II, so the citywide general penalty in § 1-13 applies: up to $2,650, up to 364 days in jail, or both, with each day a violation continues counted as a separate offense.
Violations & Fines
Unlawful dumping of garbage, rubbish or debris on public/private property; disposing outside designated sites; dumping into another's trash or recycling container without permission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dumping trash on my own private property in Aurora illegal?
What's the penalty for illegal dumping in Aurora, Colorado?
Can I dump waste in someone else's recycling bin?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Aurora
Compare Aurora to another location·View the Colorado trash & recycling overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Illegal Dumping in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Arapahoe County handle illegal dumping.