Sacramento County, CA Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- §§ 6.20.130, 6.20.710, County Code
- Criminal penalty
- Up to 6 mo. jail, $1,000+ fine
- Commercial dumping
- Fined under Penal Code § 374.3
- Enforcement
- DWMR can issue same-day citations
Summary
Dumping solid waste, organic material, or recyclables on public or private property in unincorporated Sacramento County without consent is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine starting at $1,000.
Any person who violates Section 6.20.130 of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in the County Jail for not more than six months and by a fine of not less than $1,000; provided, however, the County shall have the discretion to reduce the misdemeanor to an infraction.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4941150; v18 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
Under § 6.20.130, no one may place, deposit, dump, or accumulate solid waste, organic material, or recyclable material on any public or private street, right-of-way, sidewalk, park, or property in the unincorporated county without the owner's consent. Section 6.20.710 sets the penalty: a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in County Jail and a fine of not less than $1,000, though the County may reduce it to an infraction. Commercial-quantity dumping (a cubic yard or more, or business-generated waste) draws a fine under Penal Code § 374.3, and DWMR can issue immediate administrative citations.
Violations & Fines
Illegally dumping waste on public or private land is a misdemeanor under § 6.20.710, up to six months in jail plus a minimum $1,000 fine, with immediate administrative citations available because the violation is treated as a health and safety danger.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the penalty for illegal dumping in unincorporated Sacramento County?
Can the county cite me immediately for dumping?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sacramento County
California rules heatmap·Compare Sacramento County to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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