Los Angeles, CA Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- LAMC § 41.70.3
- Redemption window
- 60 days after seizure
- Forfeiture notice deadline
- 30 days after seizure
- Claim to contest deadline
- 10 days from notice
- Enacted
- Ord. No. 175,575, eff. 11/29/03
Summary
Under LAMC § 41.70.3, any vehicle used to dump or haul bulky items, hazardous waste, or solid waste onto property not designated for disposal is declared a public nuisance and is subject to seizure and forfeiture by the City. A peace officer or authorized public officer can seize the vehicle without a warrant on probable cause, and the registered owner has only 60 days to redeem it before the City Attorney pursues forfeiture in Superior Court.
“Illegal dumping” means the wilful throwing, dropping, placing or depositing of a bulky item, hazardous waste or solid waste on public or private property not designated for that dumping or disposal purpose... B. Abatement of Nuisance Vehicle by Seizure and Forfeiture. 1. Any vehicle used for the purpose of illegal dumping is a nuisance and the vehicle shall be enjoined and abated as provided in this section. 2. Any vehicle used to transport any bulky item, any hazardous waste or solid waste for the purpose of illegal dumping is a nuisance and the vehicle shall be enjoined and abated as provided in this section.
Full Breakdown
3, added by Ord. No. 175,575 (eff. 11/29/03), defines "illegal dumping" as the willful throwing, dropping, placing or depositing of a "bulky item" (discarded furniture, appliances, abandoned vehicles or parts), "hazardous waste" (per Health & Safety Code § 25117), or "solid waste" on property not designated for that purpose: excluding small litter ordinarily carried on a person. Any vehicle used to dump or to transport material for dumping is declared a nuisance subject to seizure. 07(a) may seize the vehicle under a court order, or without one if the seizure is incident to an arrest or search warrant, or there is probable cause the vehicle was used for illegal dumping.
The officer must complete a receipt under Penal Code § 1412. The City Attorney then decides whether to pursue forfeiture and must serve a notice of intended forfeiture within 30 calendar days of seizure; a claimant has 10 days from that notice (or 30 days from first publication if served by publication) to file a claim in Superior Court contesting the forfeiture. Vehicles reported stolen before the seizure are exempt from forfeiture unless the registered owner cannot be identified or fails to redeem the vehicle within 60 days of seizure by paying tow, storage, and release charges, provided there are no other holds. In lieu of forfeiture, a negotiated settlement's proceeds are split between City Attorney enforcement costs, law enforcement equipment/investigation costs, and the general fund.
Violations & Fines
Owning, leasing, driving, or allowing a vehicle to be used for illegal dumping makes the responsible person liable for creating a public nuisance, and the vehicle itself can be seized and forfeited to the City through a Superior Court proceeding. An owner who loses a vehicle to forfeiture but was not the one who committed the dumping may recover the resulting monetary loss directly from the person who did.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Los Angeles actually take my vehicle for illegal dumping?
How long do I have to get a seized vehicle back?
What if my vehicle was stolen and someone else dumped with it?
What happens to the money if the City settles instead of forfeiting the vehicle?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Los Angeles
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Illegal Dumping in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle illegal dumping.