Dougherty County, GA Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- §§ 2-14-45, 2-14-57
- Fine
- $100 to $1,000 per conviction
- Court option
- Litter pickup up to 1 mile
- Enforcing agencies
- Building official, police, sheriff, public works
- Publicity
- Court may publish convicted names
Summary
Dumping, throwing, or leaving litter on any road, street, or public or private property in unincorporated Dougherty County is unlawful unless it goes into a designated disposal site or receptacle, or the property owner consents. A conviction carries a fine of one hundred to one thousand dollars, and a court can also order the offender to pick up litter along a public right-of-way or the dumping site.
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to dump, deposit, throw, or leave or cause or permit the dumping, depositing, placing, throwing, or leaving of litter on any road or street or any public or private property in the county, unless: ... (1)By a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00);
Full Breakdown
Section 2-14-45 of the Dougherty County Litter Control Resolution makes it "unlawful for any person or persons to dump, deposit, throw, or leave or cause or permit the dumping, depositing, placing, throwing, or leaving of litter on any road or street or any public or private property in the county," with narrow exceptions for a designated disposal site, a litter receptacle or dumpster meant for that purpose, or property where the owner or tenant has consented. " Section 2-14-56 gives prosecutors a prima facie case whenever litter is thrown, deposited, or dumped from a vehicle, boat, airplane, or other conveyance, and a rebuttable presumption of guilt when discarded litter is discovered to contain mail or other items bearing a person's name.
The Albany-Dougherty Clean Community Commission, the building official, county police, the sheriff's department, and the department of public works all investigate and report violations under Section 2-14-53, and the building official's inspectors, county police, and sheriff's deputies may issue citations under Section 2-14-54.
Violations & Fines
Under Section 2-14-57, a conviction for illegal dumping carries a fine of not less than one hundred dollars and not more than one thousand dollars. A judge may also order the offender to pick up and remove litter for up to one mile of public right-of-way, or from the private or public property where the dumping occurred, and the court may publish the names of persons convicted. Each violation is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to dump trash on the roadside in unincorporated Dougherty County?
What is the penalty for illegal dumping?
Who investigates illegal dumping complaints?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dougherty County
Compare Dougherty County to another location·View the Georgia trash & recycling overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.