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Kenton County, KY Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
§ 50.066 Open Dumping
Penalty
$100 to $500 fine, § 50.999
Each day
Separate offense
Enforcing agency
County Police / Solid Waste Director
Applies to
Unincorporated county only
State law cited
KRS 224.40-100

Summary

Kenton County bans open dumping of solid waste, including bulky waste, on any land or water in the unincorporated county under Code of Ordinances § 50.066. A violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $100 to $500 per day under § 50.999, enforced by County Police.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Kenton County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

OPEN DUMPING. Open dumping of solid waste, including bulky waste, on all lands (that is, roadsides, hollows, rivers, streams, lakes, and the like) by any person is prohibited by KRS 224.40-100 and this chapter. (Ord. 830.2, passed 6-13-89) Penalty, see § 50.999

View official code

Full Breakdown

066, OPEN DUMPING, prohibits dumping solid waste, including bulky waste, on roadsides, in hollows, rivers, streams, lakes and similar lands anywhere in unincorporated Kenton County. 40-100 alongside the county chapter as the basis for the prohibition, so a dumping violation can be charged under both the state statute and the local ordinance. 001) limits this reach to unincorporated Kenton County, exclusive of cities or incorporated areas; dumping inside Covington, Independence, or another municipality falls under that city's own code, not this section. 001 as the Solid Waste Coordinator for the Northern Kentucky Solid Waste Management District, operating under an interlocal agreement with Boone and Campbell Counties dated September 25, 1991. 065). 081.

Violations & Fines

Each violation of Chapter 50, including open dumping under § 50.066, is a misdemeanor under § 50.999 carrying a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500, and each day the dumped material remains constitutes a separate offense. County Police or another duly appointed agent or agency may issue the citation directly in the field.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does Kenton County's illegal dumping ban apply?
Section 50.066 applies only in unincorporated Kenton County, defined in § 50.001 as the county exclusive of cities or incorporated areas. Dumping inside Covington, Independence, or any other city in the county is regulated under that municipality's own code, not the county's Chapter 50.
What is the fine for open dumping in Kenton County?
Under § 50.999, any violation of Chapter 50, including the open dumping ban in § 50.066, is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $100 to $500. Each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense, so unremoved dumped material can generate repeated fines.
Who enforces the illegal dumping ordinance?
County Police or any duly appointed agent or agency may issue a citation under § 50.999. The Director named throughout Chapter 50 is the Solid Waste Coordinator for the Northern Kentucky Solid Waste Management District, operating under a 1991 interlocal agreement with Boone and Campbell Counties.
Does the county ordinance replace state dumping law?
No. Section 50.066 dumps waste jointly under KRS 224.40-100 and the county chapter, so the same conduct can be prosecuted under state law, the local ordinance, or both, and the state landfill permitting requirements in § 50.067 apply on top of the local ban.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Kenton County

Collection ScheduleSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSignificant RestrictionsYard Waste CollectionSome RestrictionsDumpster RulesSome RestrictionsBin Placement RulesSome RestrictionsRecycling RequirementsFew RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Snow Removal Parking RulesSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant Restrictions

All Kenton County rules

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