Dumping waste, furniture, appliances, or yard debris on Lodi streets, alleys, vacant lots, or someone else's cart violates Lodi Municipal Code Title 8 and California Penal Code §374.3, which carries mandatory fines starting at $250 for a first offense and rising to $3,000 (or jail) for repeat or commercial-quantity dumping.
Illegal dumping in Lodi is prosecuted under two overlapping authorities. Locally, Lodi Municipal Code Title 8 (Health and Safety) and Title 13 (Public Use) prohibit depositing solid waste anywhere other than into a customer's own authorized container or at a licensed transfer/landfill facility. Statewide, California Penal Code §374.3 makes it unlawful to dump waste matter — including rocks, concrete, asphalt, dirt, or household refuse — on any public or private property without the owner's consent. Penalties under §374.3 (effective Jan. 1, 2023): first offense, mandatory fine of $250-$1,000; second offense, $500-$1,500; third or subsequent offense, $750-$3,000. Fines double if the dumped material includes used tires. Commercial-quantity dumping (1 cubic yard or more) is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in county jail plus fines of $1,000-$10,000+. Courts must also order removal of the waste (or payment for removal) and up to 12 hours of community service picking up litter. San Joaquin County raised illegal-dumping penalties countywide in recent enforcement initiatives. Report dumping in Lodi to Community Improvement at 209-333-6823, or for active dumping in progress call Lodi Police non-emergency at 209-333-6727.
Cal. Penal Code §374.3 first-offense: $250-$1,000 mandatory fine. Second: $500-$1,500. Third+: $750-$3,000. Tires double the fine. Commercial quantities (1+ cubic yard): misdemeanor, up to 6 months jail and $1,000-$10,000+ fines. Plus mandatory court orders for waste removal and up to 12 hours community service. Lodi may also impose administrative citations under LMC enforcement procedures and pursue civil cost recovery for cleanup.
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