Georgetown, KY Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Prohibited act
- Depositing solid waste on any premises, street or alley
- Intent to remove later
- Not a defense
- Cure period
- 24 hours from notice unless the citation says otherwise
- Class 1 fine
- $50.00 initial, plus $50.00 per seven days, to $500.00
- Maximum civil fine
- $1,000.00 uncontested, $2,000.00 contested
- Rental property
- Owner and tenant both accountable
- Citation waiver
- No similar violation in past 24 months and prompt cure
Summary
In Georgetown, no person can deposit solid waste upon any premises, street or alley, public or private, other than as the article prescribes, even with an intent to remove it later. Violations are nuisances and civil offenses enforced through the Code Enforcement Board, with Class 1 fines starting at $50.00.
(3) No person shall deposit, by any means, solid waste upon any premises, street or alley, whether public or private, irrespective of an intent to later remove the waste, in any manner other than that prescribed by this section. No person shall suffer or permit the accumulation of waste, on any premises owned, occupied or controlled by such person. ... (a) Violation of any section of this article shall constitute a civil offense which shall be enforced according to the procedures set forth in the chapter 2 , article VI by the code enforcement board, hearing officers, code enforcement officers, citation officers and other persons duly authorized to investigate and enforce the violations through investigation, inspection and issuance of citations. (b) The penalty for violations of this article shall be as set forth in section 2-842 . All violations of this article, for which another penalty is not assigned, shall be considered Class 1 violations.
Official source re-checked November 3, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
Section 40-28(3) of the Georgetown Code is the core dumping rule. It bars depositing solid waste by any means upon any premises, street or alley, whether public or private, in any manner other than the one the section prescribes, and it says an intent to later remove the waste is no defense. It also bars suffering or permitting the accumulation of waste on any premises a person owns, occupies or controls.
The neighboring subsections close the gaps. Section 40-28(1) prohibits letting solid waste accumulate in any way other than the proper disposal the article requires. Section 40-28(2) declares an accumulation on premises unsightly, unsanitary and hazardous to public health, safety or welfare, and detrimental to nearby property values. On rental property both owner and tenant are accountable, while on owner-resident property the owner is responsible. Subsection (5) requires violations to be remedied within 24 hours of notice unless the citation says otherwise.
Enforcement runs through chapter 2, article VI. Section 40-31(a) makes any violation of the article a civil offense enforced by the code enforcement board, hearing officers, code enforcement officers, citation officers and other authorized persons through investigation, inspection and citations. Under § 40-31(c), a citation is waived only if the same or similar violation has not occurred on the property within the past 24 months and the violation is remedied within the time the citation specifies.
The city can also clean up and bill. Under § 40-24(c), when trash, garbage or other refuse accumulates long enough to be a nuisance, the owner and occupant are each presumed to have authorized the city to remove it and are responsible for the city's reasonable charges, which shall be not less than the monthly charge on the current schedule. Separately, § 38-21 requires anyone hauling material likely to fall and litter the streets to cover the load so its contents cannot drop, blow, sift or otherwise escape from the vehicle.
Violations & Fines
Under § 40-31(b), violations of the article with no other assigned penalty are Class 1 violations punished under § 2-842. A first Class 1 violation in a calendar year remedied in time carries no fine. Otherwise the initial fine is $50.00, with $50.00 added for each seven days or portion thereof beyond the remediation date until the total reaches $500.00. The maximum civil fine is $1,000.00 if uncontested and $2,000.00 if contested. Cleanup charges can also be billed to the owner and occupant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to leave waste on a vacant lot or alley in Georgetown?
Who is responsible for waste piled up at a rental property?
How big are the fines for dumping?
Can a citation be waived?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Georgetown
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