Cathedral City, CA Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)

Cathedral City Municipal Code § 6.04.680 makes it unlawful for any person to negligently or intentionally spill upon any property within the city any solid waste, or to cause, suffer or permit solid waste to be located upon any property in the city, except as authorized by law. The wording reaches both the person who dumps and the property holder who permits waste to remain. Solid waste has the meaning in Public Resources Code Section 40191 and includes gray container waste, non-organic recyclables and organic waste.

Other prohibited acts in Article 6 of Chapter 6.04 close related gaps. Section 6.04.620 bars depositing hazardous waste, household hazardous waste or universal waste in a franchisee container or dumping, pouring or discharging it into the environment. Section 6.04.660 bars placing anything in another person's containers without permission. Section 6.04.670 requires anyone transporting solid waste to clean up spills, and if they do not, the City can clean up and charge the responsible person one hundred percent of its costs. Section 6.04.630 bans burning solid waste except in an approved incinerator or permitted device, and § 6.04.650 declares a premises without a franchisee service arrangement a public nuisance.

Enforcement runs through § 6.04.710. Under Penal Code Section 836.5, any City code enforcement officer can enforce the chapter along with Penal Code Sections 374, 374a, 374.2, 374.3, 374.4, 374d, 374.7 and 375, Government Code Section 68055 et seq., and Vehicle Code Sections 23111 and 23112. Subsection B allows enforcement in any manner authorized by law, including an administrative citation, criminal citation, nuisance abatement action or civil action. Under § 6.04.700 the City receives written complaints, including anonymous complaints.