Bowie, MD Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 15-5
- Prohibited act
- Dumping trash/junk on another's land or street
- Enforcement
- Code enforcement officer citation, municipal infraction
- Default fine
- $100 first offense, $200 repeat
- Fine cap
- Up to $1,000 per infraction
- Payment deadline
- 20 calendar days at City Hall
- Appeal window
- 15 days to Administrative Review Board
Summary
Dumping trash, junk or other refuse on another person's land or on any public street in the City of Bowie is unlawful under City Code § 15-5. A violation is a municipal infraction enforced by a City code enforcement officer, carrying a citation fine and the City's right to seek a court injunction against repeat offenders under § 15-7.
It shall be unlawful for any person to throw, dump, or deposit any trash, junk or other refuse upon the land or property of another without the written consent first had and obtained of the owner thereof, or under the personal direction of such owner; or to throw, dump, or deposit any trash, junk or other refuse upon any public street of the City. ... Violations of this article are municipal infractions, subject to the penalty and enforcement provisions of Chapter 1, §§ 1-6 and 1-6A of this Code.
Full Breakdown
City Code § 15-5 makes it unlawful for any person to throw, dump, or deposit trash, junk or other refuse upon the land or property of another without the written consent of the owner, or upon any public street of the City. The prohibition sits in Chapter 15, Nuisances, and Chapter 1, § 1-6C(8) specifically declares violations of Chapter 15 municipal infractions rather than misdemeanors. A code enforcement officer issues a citation under § 1-6C(2) stating the name and address of the person charged, the nature and location of the infraction, the fine amount, and the payment deadline; the citation must be served under Maryland Rule 3-121 or, for property violations, by mail plus posting at the site.
Under § 1-6C(9), if the City Council has not set a specific fine for a particular chapter, a municipal infraction defaults to $100 for a first offense and $200 for each later offense, with each day of a continuing violation a separate offense; § 1-6C(1) caps any Council-set infraction fine at $1,000 per violation. The fine is due at City Hall within 20 calendar days of the citation under § 1-6C(3). A recipient may instead demand a trial in District Court, or request review by the Administrative Review Board within 15 days of the citation under § 1-6C(5).
Failure to pay or contest the citation lets the fine double to as much as $1,000 and moves the case to District Court under § 1-6C(6). Separately, § 15-7 authorizes the City Council or City Manager to seek an injunction against anyone who violates or threatens to violate the dumping ban, in addition to any fine.
Violations & Fines
A first dumping citation defaults to a $100 municipal infraction fine, rising to $200 for a repeat or continuing violation, with each day of ongoing dumping counted separately under § 1-6C(9). The City Council may set a specific infraction fine as high as $1,000 per violation. Unpaid or uncontested citations can double to $1,000 and proceed to District Court, and the City may also seek an injunction under § 15-7.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to dump trash on someone else's land in Bowie?
What is the fine for illegal dumping in the City of Bowie?
Who enforces Bowie's dumping ordinance?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bowie
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