Marin County, CA Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Maximum jail term
- 6 months, county jail
- Maximum fine
- $500
- Informant reward
- $50 for arrest and conviction
- Covered locations
- Roads, rights-of-way, private property, parks
- Consent exception
- Written property owner consent
- Garbage vehicle covering
- Canvas or suitable covering required
Summary
Dumping garbage, rubbish or refuse on any public or private road, right-of-way or property without the owner's consent, or on county park land, is a misdemeanor in unincorporated Marin under Code § 7.04.130, punishable by up to six months in county jail and a $500 fine. The county pays a $50 reward for tips leading to a conviction.
No person shall place, deposit or dump, or cause to be placed, deposited or dumped, any garbage, rubbish or refuse upon any public or private highway or road, including any portion of the right-of-way thereof, or any private property without the consent of the owner, or in or upon any public park or other public property. The county of Marin shall pay the sum of fifty dollars as a reward to any person giving information leading directly to the arrest and conviction of any other person violating the terms of this section. ... Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter, except where other penalties are specified, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed six months, or a fine not to exceed the sum of five hundred dollars, or by both such imprisonment and fine.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 2026 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
120 bans placing, depositing or dumping garbage, rubbish or refuse on any public or private highway or road (including the right-of-way), on private property without the owner's consent, or on any public park or other public property. To deter offenders, the county pays a fifty-dollar reward to anyone whose information leads directly to an arrest and conviction, and the road commissioner is authorized to post signs advertising the reward along public roads. 130. The same chapter also requires vehicles that transport garbage on county roads to first be inspected and approved by the Marin County Health Department, and to keep their loads thoroughly and securely covered with canvas or a similar covering so nothing spills onto public streets, roads or highways, reinforcing the dumping ban by regulating how waste is hauled in the first place.
Violations & Fines
A violation of § 7.04.120 is a misdemeanor under § 7.04.130, punishable upon conviction by up to six months in county jail, a fine of up to $500, or both. This is separate from, and can be charged in addition to, the escalating $100/$200/$500 administrative fines available under Chapter 7.00 for contamination of the franchised waste, recycling or organics containers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the penalty for illegal dumping in unincorporated Marin County?
Is there a reward for reporting someone who illegally dumps trash?
Can I dump yard debris or trash on my own private property?
Do garbage-hauling trucks need special equipment on Marin County roads?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Marin County
California rules heatmap·Compare Marin County to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.