Carver County, MN Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Civil penalty
- 2x to 5x government cleanup cost
- Statute implemented
- M.S. § 115A.99(1)
- Private landowner
- may join action for property damages
- Separate offense
- each day violation continues
- Penalty proceeds
- general fund of enforcing jurisdiction
Summary
Anyone who unlawfully dumps solid waste on public or private land, shorelands, roadways or waters in Carver County faces a civil penalty of two to five times the cost of removing and disposing of the waste, on top of a possible misdemeanor charge under the chapter's general penalty section.
(3) Consistent with M.S. § 115A.99(1), as it may be amended from time to time, a person who unlawfully places any portion of solid waste in or on public or private lands, shorelands, roadways or waters is subject to a civil penalty of not less than twice nor more than five times the amount of cost incurred by a state agency or political subdivision to remove, process and dispose of the waste. A state agency or political subdivision that incurs cost as described in this section may bring an action to recover the civil penalty, related legal, administrative and court costs, and damages for injury to or pollution of the lands, shorelands, roadways or waters where the waste was placed if owned or managed by the entity bringing the action. Civil penalties collected under this subsection must be deposited in the general fund of the jurisdiction enforcing the penalties.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-20: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 111-2025, passed 7-25-25).
Full Breakdown
99(1): a person who unlawfully places any portion of solid waste in or on public or private lands, shorelands, roadways or waters is subject to a civil penalty of not less than twice nor more than five times the cost a state agency or political subdivision incurs to remove, process and dispose of the dumped waste. 009(A)(3). 009(A)(4). Civil penalties collected go into the general fund of whichever jurisdiction enforced them. 009(A)(5) makes each day a dumping violation occurs or continues its own separate offense, so a pile left in place accrues additional exposure daily rather than being treated as one event. 005(B)(2)-(3).
Violations & Fines
Illegal dumping draws a civil penalty of two to five times the government's cleanup cost under § 50.009(A)(3), separate from the general misdemeanor penalty in § 50.999(A) for violating the solid waste chapter; each day the dumped waste remains is its own offense. The enforcing agency or a private landowner can also sue for legal, administrative and court costs and for property damage under § 50.009(A)(3)-(4).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the penalty for illegal dumping in Carver County?
Can a private property owner sue over dumped waste?
Is each day of illegal dumping a separate violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Carver County
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