St. Lucie County, FL Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- County section
- Code Sec. 38-26 / 38-24
- State law
- F.S. 403.413 (Litter Law)
- Small amount
- $150 civil fine
- Over 15 lbs
- First-degree misdemeanor
- Over 500 lbs
- Third-degree felony
Summary
Dumping garbage, trash, junk or debris on private or public property in unincorporated St. Lucie County is prohibited, and Florida's Litter Law adds fines from $150 up to third-degree felony charges for large or commercial dumping.
No person shall discard, place, abandon, accumulate, or permit or cause to be discarded, placed, abandoned, or accumulated any abandoned property, garbage, trash, junk, or debris on private property in the unincorporated areas of the county unless such abandoned property ... is stored in an enclosed structure or at an authorized junk or auto wrecking yard.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 32 | Land Development Code: Supplement 36).
Full Breakdown
St. Lucie County Code Sec. 38-26 bars discarding, abandoning or accumulating any abandoned property, garbage, trash, junk or debris on private property in the unincorporated county unless stored in an enclosed structure or an authorized junk yard; Sec. 38-24 extends the ban to roads and public lands. Naming evidence found in the waste is prima facie proof of the violator. On top of local enforcement, Florida's Litter Law (F.S. 403.413) sets escalating penalties: a $150 fine for small amounts, a first-degree misdemeanor over 15 pounds, and a third-degree felony for over 500 pounds or any commercial dumping.
Violations & Fines
County code enforcement plus F.S. 403.413: $150 for under 15 lbs, first-degree misdemeanor over 15 lbs, third-degree felony over 500 lbs or commercial dumping.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as illegal dumping?
How bad are the penalties?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Lucie County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare St. Lucie County to another location·View the Florida trash & recycling overview
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