Caldwell, ID Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)

Caldwell City Code section 07-11-01(3) defines dumped material as a nuisance: nuisance materials on the ground, whether leaked, drained, seeped, dripped, sprayed, or dumped, with narrow carve-outs for incidental leakage from lawfully parked vehicles, lawful pesticide or herbicide application, or activity permitted by the City or another governing authority. Separately, section 07-01-09(3) makes it unlawful for anyone without a city hauling contract to engage in the business of collecting, transporting, hauling, or conveying any refuse over the streets or alleys, or to dump or dispose of the same.

Enforcement of a dumping nuisance follows section 07-11-05: a Code Enforcement Officer first issues a request for voluntary compliance giving the responsible party ten days to clean up, unless the dumping is a repeat violation, in which case the officer can go straight to an intent of abatement notice. Once served, the property owner or dumper has five calendar days to abate, and four calendar days to appeal to the City Council through the City Clerk. If dumped material is not removed after that order, section 07-11-05(5) makes continuing the violation a misdemeanor, with each and every day in which any such violation continues treated as a separate offense, and both peace officers and Code Enforcement Officers may issue citations.

The City can additionally sue in civil court to force cleanup and recover its abatement costs, litigation expenses and attorney fees under section 07-11-05(6), or bill the responsible party directly and place a special assessment on the property under section 07-11-05(7) if the bill goes unpaid.