Frederick, MD Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Littering fine
- $150.00 (§ 10-2)
- Illegal dumping/accumulation fine
- $300.00 (§ 10-4)
- Hazardous/infectious waste dumping
- $1,000.00 (§ 10-6)
- Outside-refuse hauling fine
- $300.00 (§ 10-3)
- Additional remedy
- Abatement costs become a property lien
Summary
Frederick bans littering and dumping refuse outside authorized containers under City Code §§ 10-2 and 10-4, with fines running from $150 for littering up to $1,000 for dumping hazardous or infectious waste, plus a $300 fine for hauling in outside trash for City pickup.
§ 10-2. - Littering.(a)Prohibited. A person may not dispose or cause or allow the disposal of litter on public or private property unless...(b)Penalties. Violation of this section is a municipal infraction punishable by a fine of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00). § 10-4. - Accumulation of refuse.(a)Prohibited. A person may not dump, or allow to accumulate either directly, or through an employee, agent, tenant or licensee, any refuse outside of a designated refuse storage container or allow refuse to be washed, to flow or to be carried in any manner from one property to another.(b)Penalties. Violation of this section is a municipal infraction punishable by a fine of three hundred dollars ($300.00).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Land Management Code: Supplement 13 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 112).
Full Breakdown
00 fine. 00. The surrounding Article I sections reinforce the dumping scheme: Sec. 10-3 fines non-residents $300 for bringing outside refuse into the City and depositing it for City collection; Sec. 10-5 fines $150 for litter blown from an uncovered or unsecured vehicle load; Sec. 10-6 fines $1,000 for depositing hazardous or infectious waste in a refuse container or at a collection point; and Sec. 10-8 fines $50 (first offense) or $200 (subsequent) for scavenging recoverable material from bins or dumpsters set out for collection.
Section 10-10 gives the City an additional civil remedy: beyond any fine, the City may seek any legal or equitable remedy to abate, restrain, or correct a violation, and any abatement costs are charged to the property owner and become a lien collectible like City taxes, similar to how Sec. 10-7 handles unclaimed evicted-tenant property left on City rights-of-way.
Violations & Fines
Littering under Sec. 10-2 is a municipal infraction fined at $150.00. Illegal accumulation or dumping of refuse under Sec. 10-4 is a municipal infraction fined at $300.00. Related offenses in the same article carry their own fines: $300 for bringing in outside refuse (10-3), $150 for litter blown from a vehicle (10-5), $1,000 for hazardous/infectious waste dumping (10-6), and $50/$200 for scavenging (10-8). The City may also pursue abatement costs as a property lien under Sec. 10-10.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the fine for illegal dumping in Frederick, MD?
Can Frederick fine someone for dumping hazardous waste?
Is it illegal to bring trash into Frederick from outside the City?
Sources & Official References
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