Jefferson County, AL Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Covered material
- Garbage, junk, tires, old appliances
- Duty holder
- Owner, tenant, or person in control
- Enforcing office
- Land and Zoning Administrator
- Max penalty
- 30 days jail, $200 fine
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county only
- Governing section
- Weed and Litter Ordinance § 1.30(C)
Summary
Jefferson County's Weed and Litter Ordinance bars anyone in charge of unincorporated-area property from letting garbage, junk, tires, old appliances, and other debris pile up or get dumped there. Section 1.30(C) defines "litter" broadly enough to cover illegally dumped trash as well as ordinary junk accumulation, and violators face the same criminal penalties as the ordinance's weed and vehicle offenses.
It shall be unlawful for the owner, proprietor, tenant or other person in charge or control of a lot, place or premises that lies within the unincorporated area of Jefferson County to fail to keep said lot, place or premises clean and free from litter. For purposes hereof "litter" shall mean and include garbage, refuse, junk, debris, salvaged materials, household furniture, trash, used motor vehicle tires, inoperable motor vehicles, kitchen or other household appliances, rags, paper, cardboard and other non-decorative matter, including any materials within which water may accumulate or which may shield or encourage the growth of insects or rodents, or materials which generate obnoxious odors, or which offend the esthetics of the community and thereby cause a substantial diminution in the value of other property nearby.
Full Breakdown
" The ordinance's definition of litter is deliberately expansive, "garbage, refuse, junk, debris, salvaged materials, household furniture, trash, used motor vehicle tires, inoperable motor vehicles, kitchen or other household appliances, rags, paper, cardboard and other non-decorative matter", plus anything that pools water for mosquitoes, breeds insects or rodents, or offends the esthetics of the community enough to hurt neighboring property values. That sweep covers both trash a property owner lets accumulate and material someone else dumps on a vacant or unattended parcel, since the duty falls on whoever is "in charge or control" of the lot regardless of who put the material there.
The only carve-out mirrors the vehicle rule: a properly zoned, licensed business whose litter-generating activity is a reasonably necessary incident of its operation, so long as it doesn't create standing water or breed pests. 40 for prosecution as a criminal VIOLATION, the same track as the ordinance's weed and vehicle provisions.
Violations & Fines
Dumping or accumulating litter under Section 1.30(C) is a criminal VIOLATION under Title 13A of the Alabama Criminal Code. Jefferson County District Court can impose up to 30 days in jail, a fine up to $200, and court costs under Sections 13A-5-7(b) and 13A-5-12(b), with a right to a trial de novo in Circuit Court and a jury demand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as illegal dumping under the county ordinance?
Am I liable if someone else dumps trash on my vacant lot?
What penalty applies to a litter violation?
Does a licensed junkyard get an exception?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jefferson County
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