Dumping refuse where it threatens health is an abatable nuisance under the Howard County Health Code, and taking recyclables set out for county collection is a separate prohibited offense under Section 18.610.
Howard County addresses illegal disposal two ways. Improper refuse disposal that threatens health is a nuisance under Health Code Section 12.110, which the Health Officer can order abated and lien. Separately, Section 18.610 bans scavenging: no individual may remove recyclable material that residents have separated and placed at curbside for the county's recycling program, except county employees or authorized contractors and law enforcement. Maryland's state litter-control law also penalizes dumping trash on public or private land without permission. Residents should use scheduled bulk or landfill drop-off rather than dumping.
Unauthorized recyclable removal (Sec. 18.610) is a Title 24 civil offense: Class C first offense, Class B for subsequent offenses, cited by police or DPW enforcement staff.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Howard County allows residential backyard composting and actively promotes it. The county runs a Feed the Green Bin curbside food-scrap collection and sells ...
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Howard County has no ordinance specifically prohibiting or requiring artificial turf for residential yards. Synthetic lawns are generally allowed, but becaus...
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Howard County places no restriction on planting native or pollinator gardens. Maryland's low-impact landscaping law (House Bill 322, 2021) bars homeowners as...
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Howard County does not ban rainwater harvesting. Rain barrels and cisterns are legal and actively promoted through the county's Live Green Howard and stormwa...
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Howard County has no year-round odd/even watering ban. Water use is limited only when the state declares a drought. Under Maryland's Level One Mandatory Rest...
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Howard County's adopted Property Maintenance Code requires exterior premises to be kept free of weeds and rank plant growth, but it applies only to rental an...
See how Howard County's illegal dumping rules stack up against other locations.
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