Cupertino, CA Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Cupertino Municipal Code § 6.24.110
- Public places covered
- Street, alley, gutter, park, other public place
- On-site storage rule
- Waste must stay in required containers
- Composting exception
- Residential composting bins allowed, kept out of view
- Wastewater rule
- Must go to sanitary sewer; grease trap may apply
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine and/or 6 months jail
Summary
Dumping refuse, garbage or hazardous waste on a Cupertino street, alley, gutter or park is unlawful under Section 6.24.110, and property owners cannot keep waste anywhere on site except in the containers Section 6.24.070 requires. A carve-out lets residents keep a proper composting bin without violating the rule.
It is unlawful for any person or entity in the City to throw, deposit or store refuse, garbage or hazardous waste, or to cause the same to be thrown, deposited or stored, upon any street, alley, gutter, park, or other public place. Furthermore, no property owner and/or tenant with control over any premises shall keep or maintain any garbage, non-organic recyclables, organic waste, hazardous materials, or any waste effluent such as grease or oil on any premises within the City other than in containers as required by Section 6.24.070 and/or any other provisions of this chapter.
Full Breakdown
110, Unauthorized Disposal Prohibited, makes it unlawful for any person or entity in the City to throw, deposit or store refuse, garbage or hazardous waste, or to cause it to be thrown, deposited or stored, upon any street, alley, gutter, park, or other public place. 24. Wastewater is required to go to the sanitary sewer, and if it carries oil or grease the code notes a grease trap may be required. 110 stops an owner or tenant with control over a residential premises from keeping organic waste in a residential composting bin designed and intended for that purpose, so long as the composting materials and containers are not stored in public view. 010 also permit, from unlawful open dumping or unauthorized on-site accumulation of waste outside proper containers.
Violations & Fines
Illegal dumping under Section 6.24.110 is enforced under Section 6.24.240 the same as other Chapter 6.24 violations: the City may issue an administrative citation and fine under Chapter 1.10, or prosecute the dumping as a misdemeanor under Chapter 1.12, carrying a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both, with each day the dumped material remains treated as a separate offense under Section 1.12.020.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dumping trash on a Cupertino street illegal?
Can a Cupertino homeowner keep a compost bin without violating the dumping rule?
What is the penalty for illegal dumping in Cupertino?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cupertino
California rules heatmap·Compare Cupertino to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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Illegal Dumping in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Santa Clara County handle illegal dumping.