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St. Clair County, IL Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

State litter law
415 ILCS 105/4 prohibits dumping
First offense
Class B misdemeanor
County open-dump ban
Sanitary Landfill Code, Ch. 32
Junk vehicles
Nuisance, up to $500/day
Cleanup
County may remove and lien

Summary

Dumping litter, garbage, or debris on public or private property is illegal under Illinois' Litter Control Act - a Class B misdemeanor for a first offense (415 ILCS 105/8). The county Sanitary Landfill Code bans open dumps, and abandoning junk vehicles is a county nuisance punishable by up to $500.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of St. Clair County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

No person shall dump, deposit, drop, throw, discard, leave, cause or permit the dumping, depositing, dropping, throwing, discarding or leaving of litter upon any public or private property in this State, or upon or into any river, lake, pond, or other stream or body of water in this State, unless:

View official code

Full Breakdown

Illegal dumping is attacked on three levels here. State law (415 ILCS 105/4) prohibits dumping, depositing, or discarding litter on any public or private property or into any waterway; a first conviction is a Class B misdemeanor, rising to Class A and then a Class 4 felony for repeat offenses. St. Clair County's Sanitary Landfill Code (Ch. 32) adopts the state 'open garbage dumps' prohibition and requires disposal at permitted sites. The county Motor Vehicle Code (24-2-1) declares abandoned and inoperable vehicles on public or private property a nuisance, with fines up to $500 per day. The Garbage and Debris ordinance lets the county remove and lien accumulated waste.

Violations & Fines

Litter Control Act violation: Class B misdemeanor (first offense), Class A on a second, Class 4 felony on a third (415 ILCS 105/8). Junk-vehicle nuisance: fine up to $500, each day a new offense (SCC 24-2-16).

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the penalty for illegal dumping in Illinois?
Under the Litter Control Act, a first conviction is a Class B misdemeanor. A second is a Class A misdemeanor and a third or later offense is a Class 4 felony (415 ILCS 105/8).
Are junk cars on my property illegal?
In unincorporated St. Clair County, keeping an inoperable or abandoned vehicle in public view is a declared nuisance. After 7 days' notice it is a petty offense punishable by a fine up to $500 per day (SCC 24-2-1, 24-2-16).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in St. Clair County

Bulk Item DisposalSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsBin Placement RulesSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Aircraft NoiseSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSignificant RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome Restrictions

All St. Clair County rules

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