York County, SC Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)

116(A) makes it unlawful to dump, deposit, throw, drop, discard or otherwise dispose of litter, garbage, solid waste, rubbish or trash on any public or private property in the unincorporated county except in containers, convenience centers, transfer stations or other authorized disposal sites. 116(B) further bars property owners from depositing waste anywhere but a covered container or authorized site, placing bulky items such as discarded appliances, furniture, mattresses or tires outside a building except at approved disposal sites, sweeping or dumping waste onto public rights-of-way, or maintaining an abandoned swimming pool or a stored junk or inoperable vehicle that becomes a nuisance or breeding ground for vermin.

116(D) allows temporary construction-site material storage if it is contained daily and the site stays reasonably clean. 117 sets a penalty structure on top of the general chapter fine. In addition to any fine, the court must order a minimum of five hours of litter-gathering labor or other public service for each offense, and no part of the fine may be suspended, though the court may substitute community service at a rate of one hour per $5 of fine for anyone unable to pay. A second conviction requires a minimum of 20 hours of community service on top of the fine. Everyone convicted or pleading guilty or nolo contendere also owes a separate $25 fee that funds the county's supervision of court-ordered public service.