New Castle County, DE Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Scope
- County parkland only
- First offense
- $100 minimum fine
- Repeat offense
- up to $1,000 or 30 days jail
- Enforced by
- Public Works, Land Use, Public Safety
- Permit
- written Public Works permission required
Summary
New Castle County bans dumping earth, rubbish or debris in any county park without written permission from the Department of Public Works, backed by escalating fines and possible jail time.
No person shall cut, break, move, take or otherwise injure, destroy or deface any trees, shrubs, plants, turf, rock or any building, fence, bridge, sign or other structure or foul any stream, or dump any earth, rubbish, or other substance or material in or upon any park without written permission of the Department of Public Works.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
New Castle County's Section 24.01.009 makes it unlawful to dump earth, rubbish, or other material in or upon any county park without written permission from the Department of Public Works, the same section also bars damaging park trees, structures, and streams. This ban is parks-only: it does not create a countywide dumping ordinance covering private property, vacant lots, or roadsides. Enforcement runs through Public Works, Land Use, and Public Safety staff, with Section 1.01.009's general penalty applying, a $100 minimum fine for a first conviction, up to $1,000 or 30 days in jail for repeat convictions within a year, plus loss of park permits. Dumping outside county parkland is a state-law matter, not covered by this chapter. Wilmington and Newark, the county's two incorporated cities, enforce their own separate municipal codes.
Violations & Fines
Dumping in a county park without Public Works' written permission draws a $100 minimum fine on first conviction, escalating to $1,000 or 30 days jail for repeat convictions, plus permit revocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this ban cover dumping on private property outside parks?
What happens on a repeat violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Castle County
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