Dallas County, TX Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sec. 34-93(1),(8),(9),(11)
- Utility easement buffer
- 20 feet or easement span
- Abatement notice period
- 30 days
- First-offense fine
- $50 to $200
- Repeat-offense penalty
- $200 to $1,000, up to 6 months jail
Summary
Discarding refuse on county-owned land, utility easements, or any property not authorized for it is a public nuisance under Sec. 34-93. Nuisance Abatement staff investigate and can refer unabated cases to court, where fines start at $50 and climb to $1,000 for repeat offenders.
(8) Discarding refuse or creating a hazardous visual obstruction on: a. County-owned land; or b. Land or easements owned or held by a special district that has the commissioners court of the county as its governing body. (9) Discarding refuse on the smaller of: a. The area that spans 20 feet on each side of a utility line; or b. The actual span of the utility easement. ... (11) Discarding refuse on property that is not authorized for that activity.
Full Breakdown
Dallas County Code Sec. 34-93 lists several dumping-specific nuisances in the unincorporated area: subsection (8) bars discarding refuse or creating a hazardous visual obstruction on county-owned land or on land or easements held by a special district governed by the commissioners court; subsection (9) bars discarding refuse within the smaller of 20 feet on each side of a utility line or the actual span of the utility easement; and subsection (11) bars discarding refuse on any property not authorized for that activity. Subsection (1) separately makes it a nuisance to keep, store, or accumulate refuse on residential or commercial premises unless it is entirely contained in a closed receptacle.
The county's Nuisance Abatement Division investigates complaints, photographs the site, and documents findings before the director decides whether a nuisance exists. If it does, the director serves a written notice to abate under Sec. 34-142, giving the responsible party 30 days to remove the dumped material before fines, county-performed abatement with cost assessment, and a lien against the property can follow. The sheriff's office separately assists in investigating illegal dumping incidents involving hazardous or abandoned materials under Chapter 14's hazardous-materials response provisions.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 34-94 makes an unabated nuisance, including illegal dumping under Sec. 34-93(8), (9), or (11), a misdemeanor carrying a fine of $50 to $200 for a first offense. A second offense within one year raises the fine to $200 to $1,000, adds up to six months in jail, and each day the dumped refuse remains counts as a separate offense; the convicting court must also order abatement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dumping refuse on county land a crime in Dallas County?
What happens if I ignore a dumping abatement notice?
Does dumping near a utility easement count separately?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dallas County
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Dallas County to another location·View the Texas trash & recycling overview
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