Newport News, VA Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Jail exposure
- Up to 12 months
- Fine range
- $500 to $2,500
- Applies to
- Public and private property
- Out-of-city waste
- Also banned from dumping here
Summary
Dumping waste on public property or on private land without the owner's written consent is a criminal misdemeanor in Newport News, carrying up to 12 months in jail and a $500-$2,500 fine, per City Code §§ 19-80, 19-81.
It shall be unlawful for any person to dump waste on public property, including a public highway, right-of-way, property adjacent to such highway or right-of-way, or on private property without the written consent of the owner thereof or his agent. It is unlawful to bring waste from any other locality for disposal or dumping within the city limits.(b)If any person is charged with a violation of this section, and the matter alleged to have been illegally dumped or disposed of has been ejected or removed from a motor vehicle, the owner or operator of such motor vehicle from which the waste has been ejected or removed shall be presumed to be the person ejecting or removing of such matter; provided, however, such presumption shall be rebuttable by competent evidence.(c)If any person is charged with a violation of this section, and the waste alleged to have been illegally dumped or removed has been ejected from a motor vehicle or transported to the disposal site in a motor vehicle, the law enforcement officer may utilize the procedures provided in § 46.2-936 of the State Code. (Ord. No. 6443-07, § 1)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 81).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 19-80 makes it unlawful to dump waste on any public property, including highways, rights-of-way and adjacent land, or on private property without the written consent of the owner or agent, and separately bans hauling waste in from outside the city for dumping here. The owner or operator of a vehicle from which waste was ejected is presumed responsible, though the presumption can be rebutted. Section 19-81 sets the penalty: a misdemeanor carrying up to 12 months in jail and a fine of $500 to $2,500, with community service in litter abatement available in lieu of jail time.
Violations & Fines
Illegal dumping is a criminal offense, not a civil fine: conviction brings up to 12 months in jail plus $500-$2,500, either or both; courts may substitute litter-abatement community service for jail time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I dump waste on my own private land in Newport News?
What's the penalty for illegal dumping?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Newport News
Compare Newport News to another location·View the Virginia trash & recycling overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.