Grand Rapids, MI Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Prohibited
- dumping garbage/rubbish on any property
- Owner duty
- keep premises clean, no accumulation
- Max penalty
- $500 fine and/or 90 days jail
- Each day
- counted as separate violation
Summary
Grand Rapids bans throwing or depositing garbage or rubbish on any street, alley, or public or private property, and requires owners to keep premises free of accumulated waste.
No person shall throw or deposit any Garbage or Rubbish upon or into any street, alley or other property, public or private. It shall be the duty of every occupant of property and of every owner of unoccupied property at all times to maintain the Premises occupied or owned by him or her, in a clean and orderly condition, permitting no deposit or accumulation of Garbage or Rubbish upon such Premises.
(Ord. No. 2012-47, § 1, 8-28-12, eff. 9-4-12)
Cross reference— Littering generally, § 9.91 et seq.
State Law reference— Littering, MCL 752.901 et seq., MSA 28.603(1) et seq.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 70).
Full Breakdown
The Litter and Accumulation section of the Solid Waste Management ordinance flatly prohibits throwing or depositing garbage or rubbish into any street, alley, or other property, public or private. It goes further than a dumping ban alone: every occupant of a property and every owner of an unoccupied property has an ongoing duty to keep the premises clean and orderly, with no deposit or accumulation of garbage or rubbish allowed to build up, whether the waste came from dumping or neglect.
Violations & Fines
Violations that rise to a nuisance are subject to abatement under Chapter 151, and Chapter 25 violations otherwise carry the citywide general penalty of a fine up to $500 and/or up to 90 days imprisonment under Section 1.13, with each day of violation counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to dump trash on someone else's property in Grand Rapids?
Can I be cited for letting trash pile up on my own lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Grand Rapids
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Illegal Dumping in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Kent County handle illegal dumping.