Broward County, FL Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Broward County Code § 14-17
- Criminal penalty
- Misdemeanor
- Civil remedy
- Abatement as public nuisance (§ 14-18)
- Applies to
- Public or private property, countywide
Summary
Dumping, burying, or burning solid waste anywhere in Broward County without authorization is a misdemeanor and a declared public nuisance the county can abate.
It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to dump, bury, incinerate, or to permit or allow the dumping, burial or incineration of solid waste matter on either private or public property within Broward County, unless such person, firm or corporation first obtains permission or authorization from:
(1)The Board of County Commissioners of Broward County;(2)The governing body of the appropriate municipality if such solid waste matter is shredded, dump buried, or incinerated within territorial limits of a municipality within Broward County; and(3)All other regulatory agencies having jurisdiction of the disposal of solid wastes within the territory involved. Violation of this section shall be a misdemeanor and any person, firm or corporation convicted thereof shall be punished as provided by law. Nothing contained herein shall prohibit the enforcement of this section by any other means.
(Sp. Acts, Ch. 63-1177, § 6; Sp. Acts, Ch. 74-451, § 5; Ord. No. 2000-19, § 4, 5-9-00; Ord. No. 2000-19, § 4, 5-9-00)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72 | Administrative Code: Supplement 28).
Full Breakdown
Broward County Code § 14-17 makes it unlawful to dump, bury, or incinerate solid waste on public or private property anywhere in the county without permission from the Board of County Commissioners, the local municipality, or any other regulatory agency with jurisdiction. A violation is a misdemeanor, punishable as provided by law. Section 14-18 separately declares unauthorized dumping, burial, or incineration a public nuisance that the county may abate or enjoin through any legal means available for nuisance abatement: a civil track that runs alongside the criminal misdemeanor charge.
Violations & Fines
Misdemeanor conviction for unauthorized dumping, burial, or incineration; county may also abate or enjoin the dumping as a public nuisance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply inside cities like Fort Lauderdale?
Can the county force cleanup, not just prosecute?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Broward County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Broward County to another location·View the Florida trash & recycling overview
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