Nassau County, FL Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 18¼-7, litter general prohibitions
- Covered areas
- Roads, beaches, waterways, private land
- Vehicle/boat liability
- § 18¼-8, operator or owner
- Owner presumption
- § 18¼-9, ID found in litter
- Enforcement
- Code Enforcement, special magistrate
Summary
In unincorporated Nassau County, it's unlawful to throw, discard, place, or let fall from a vehicle or boat any litter on public or private roads, beaches, sidewalks, waterways or property, unless it goes in a lawfully provided receptacle or the private property owner has consented. The definition of litter is broad, covering everything from garbage and tires to construction debris and abandoned appliances.
No person shall throw, discard, place, allow to fall from a vehicle or boat, or deposit litter in any manner or amount, or having done so to allow such litter to remain: (1)In or on any public or private highway, road, street, beaches, alley, sidewalk or thoroughfare, including any portion of the right-of-way thereof, or any public lands or buildings, located within the county, except in containers lawfully provided as public litter receptacles or with the consent of the governing body of the public lands and buildings; ... (3)In or on any public or private property located within the county, except in containers lawfully provided as public litter receptacles or unless prior consent of the owner of the private property has been given and unless such litter will not cause a public nuisance or be in violation of any state or local law, rule, or regulation;
Full Breakdown
Nassau County Code § 18¼-7 sets the general litter prohibition: no person may throw, discard, place, allow to fall from a vehicle or boat, or deposit litter in any manner or amount, or let such litter remain, on any public or private highway, road, street, beach, alley, sidewalk or thoroughfare within the county, in any freshwater lake, river, stream, wetland or tidal water within county boundaries, on any public or private property in the county, or in any private dumpster or trash container without the owner's or lessee's consent.
The definitions in § 18¼-1 give 'litter' a sweeping scope: personal property, garbage, rubbish, trash, refuse, cans, bottles, tobacco products, pharmaceuticals, tires, appliances, mechanical parts, construction material, tools, machinery, motor vehicle parts including trucks and trailers, vessels, aircraft, and farm equipment. Two related sections extend liability: § 18¼-8 makes the operator or owner of a vehicle or boat responsible when litter is thrown or falls from it during transit, and § 18¼-9 creates a presumption that whoever's name or identifying information turns up in discarded litter placed in violation of the chapter is the one who put it there. chapters 125 and 162, since the county's code enforcement board was dissolved April 1, 2024.
Violations & Fines
Dumping litter, debris or bulky trash on a public road, waterway, or someone else's property without consent violates § 18¼-7 and is enforced by Nassau County Code Enforcement or a sheriff's deputy under § 18¼-2 through the special magistrate process (F.S. ch. 162); a vehicle or boat operator who lets litter fall from the vehicle during transit is separately liable under § 18¼-8.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to dump trash on someone else's vacant lot in unincorporated Nassau County?
What counts as litter under the county's dumping ordinance?
Can I be cited if trash falls out of my truck while driving?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nassau County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Nassau County to another location·View the Florida trash & recycling overview
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