Flagstaff, AZ Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- §§ 7-04-001-0007(A), 7-04-001-0023
- First-offense fine
- $25 to $100
- Third-offense fine
- $500 to $2,500
- Offense class
- Class 1 misdemeanor
- Cleanup lien
- Recorded against the property
Summary
In the City of Flagstaff, dumping solid waste on a street, sidewalk, public place, private property, or into a stream is banned under City Code Section 7-04-001-0007(A), and a conviction is a Class 1 misdemeanor carrying $25.00 to $2,500.00 depending on how many prior offenses you have.
A. Public Places: ... No person shall store or place any solid waste in any street, alley, sidewalk, utility corridor or other public place within the City, or upon any private property within the City, whether owned by such person or not, except if placed in containers authorized for collection. Bulk waste may be placed curbside for collection. Nor shall any person throw or deposit any solid waste in any stream or other body of water. ... A person who is convicted of a violation of this chapter is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and shall be sentenced as follows: 1. First offense: not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00), nor more than one hundred dollars ($100.00); 2. Second offense: not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00), nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00); 3. Third offense: not less than five hundred dollars ($500.00), nor more than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500.00).
Full Breakdown
Section 7-04-001-0007(A) bars any person from storing or placing solid waste in a street, alley, sidewalk, utility corridor, or other public place within the City, or on private property whether they own it or not, unless it goes into a container authorized for collection; bulk waste can still be placed curbside for pickup. The same subsection separately bars throwing or depositing solid waste into a stream or other body of water. Section 7-04-001-0023 sets the criminal penalty scale for a conviction under the chapter: a Class 1 misdemeanor punished by no less than $25.00 and no more than $100.00 for a first offense, $100.00 to $500.00 for a second offense, and $500.00 to $2,500.00 for a third offense, and a judge is barred from suspending any part of that sentence except when the defendant has already corrected the violation and is back in compliance by the time of sentencing.
Beyond criminal prosecution, the City can pursue an administrative civil violation track under Sections 7-04-001-0015 through 7-04-001-0020, which includes a notice of violation, a hearing before a Municipal Court judge sitting as hearing officer, and an appeal to the City Council. If the City ends up removing dumped waste itself, Section 7-04-001-0022 lets it record the cost as a lien against the property, payable over one to ten years depending on the amount assessed.
Violations & Fines
Dumping solid waste in a street, alley, sidewalk, public place, or waterway, or on private property outside an authorized container, violates Section 7-04-001-0007(A). A conviction is a Class 1 misdemeanor under Section 7-04-001-0023: $25.00 to $100.00 for a first offense, $100.00 to $500.00 for a second, and $500.00 to $2,500.00 for a third, with no suspended sentences absent proven correction of the violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dumping trash on vacant land in Flagstaff illegal even if I own it?
What can I be fined for illegal dumping in Flagstaff?
Can the City clean up dumped waste and bill me for it?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Flagstaff
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