Grant County, WA Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- GCC 8.28.030, Litter regulations
- Minimum fine
- $250 per offense, misdemeanor
- Restitution
- $250 to Grant County on conviction
- Informant reward
- Up to $250 under RCW 10.85
- Evidence rule
- Name on litter is prima facie proof
- Enforcement
- Sheriff, fire marshal, building & health staff
Summary
Grant County Code 8.28.030 makes it unlawful to throw, drop or otherwise dispose of litter on any road, other public place, or private property you do not own or control in unincorporated Grant County. A conviction carries a misdemeanor fine or bail forfeiture of at least $250 per offense, and a judge can also order the violator to clean up litter they dumped.
8.28.030 - Litter regulations generally. (a)No person shall throw, drop, deposit, discard or otherwise dispose of litter upon any road, alley, or any other public place in the county or upon a private residence or other private property not owned by him, or in any waters within the jurisdiction of the county whether from a vehicle or otherwise except: ... (b)Penalty. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and the fine or bail forfeiture for such violation shall not be less than two hundred and fifty dollars for each offense, and, in addition thereto, in the sound discretion of the court, such person may be directed by the court to pick up and remove from any public place or any private residence or other property, with permission of the legal owner or other person having legal possession, upon which it is established by competent evidence that such person has deposited litter, any and all litter deposited thereon by anyone prior to the date of execution of sentence.
Full Breakdown
030(a) bars depositing litter on any road, alley or other public place, or on a private residence or other private property not your own, unless the property is a designated disposal site, the material goes into a proper receptacle, you have the owner's consent, or the site is an approved reclamation operation supervised by the county planning commission and health district. Subsection (b) sets the penalty: a misdemeanor with a fine or bail forfeiture of not less than $250 per offense, and the court may also order the violator to remove all litter they deposited on the affected property.
Subsection (c) creates an evidentiary presumption: a name or address found on a piece of dumped litter is prima facie evidence and raises a rebuttable presumption that the named person committed the violation. 85. Subsection (e) requires the court to order restitution of $250 to Grant County from anyone convicted. 110 requires owners to keep private property free of litter at all times. 210, who may issue citations or arrest without a warrant.
Violations & Fines
A first conviction is a misdemeanor carrying a fine or bail forfeiture of at least $250 under GCC 8.28.030(b), plus a possible court order to remove the dumped litter and pay $250 restitution to the county under 8.28.030(e). Tips that lead to a conviction can earn the informant a reward of up to $250 under 8.28.030(d).
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the fine for illegal dumping in unincorporated Grant County?
Can I get paid for reporting someone dumping trash?
How does the county prove who dumped the litter?
Who enforces the litter ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Grant County
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