New York, NY Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Citation
- Admin Code § 16-119
- First-offense civil penalty
- $4,000
- Repeat offense (18 months)
- up to $18,000
- Commercial violation
- misdemeanor, up to 90 days jail
- Vehicle used in dumping
- impounded, subject to forfeiture
Summary
New York City bans dumping dirt, debris, trash, or waste from a vehicle onto any street, lot, park, or waterway, public or private, under Administrative Code § 16-119, with fines starting at $4,000 per violation.
It shall be unlawful for any person...to suffer or permit any amount of dirt, sand, gravel, clay, loam, stone, rocks, rubble, building rubbish, sawdust, shavings or trade or household waste, refuse, ashes, manure, garbage, rubbish or debris of any sort...to be dumped, deposited or otherwise disposed of in or upon any sidewalk, street, lot, park, public place, wharf, pier, dock, bulkhead, slip, navigable waterway or other area whether publicly or privately owned.
Full Breakdown
New York City's Administrative Code makes it unlawful for anyone to dump dirt, rubble, household or trade waste, ashes, garbage, or other debris transported by vehicle onto any sidewalk, street, lot, park, wharf, pier, or waterway, public or private. The Department of Sanitation enforces § 16-119 with civil penalties of $4,000 for a first offense rising to $9,000 and $18,000 for repeat violations within 18 months, plus a misdemeanor charge, fines up to $9,000, and up to 90 days in jail for commercial offenders. Dump trucks used in violations can be impounded and, on repeat or hazardous-waste offenses, forfeited, and offenders must clean the dumped area within ten days.
Violations & Fines
Commercial dumping is a misdemeanor: $4,000-$9,000 fines, up to 90 days jail, plus civil penalties up to $18,000 for repeat offenses and vehicle impoundment or forfeiture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dumping trash on a sidewalk or vacant lot illegal in NYC?
What happens if a dump truck is used to illegally dump in NYC?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New York
New York rules heatmap·Compare New York to another location·View the New York trash & recycling overview
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