Nicholasville, KY Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Where deposit is barred
- Any public way, public place, river, canal, drain, sewer or receiving basin
- Hauling rule
- Cover waste loads while moving on any street or alley
- Trade-goods exception
- Removed within two (2) hours
- Unapproved disposal
- Unlawful at any non-approved facility (Sec. 18-6(4))
- General penalty if none stated
- $10 to $250 under Sec. 1-10(a)
- Garbage line, uncontested
- $50, $100, $150 by offense number
Summary
Sec. 11-1 makes it unlawful in Nicholasville to cast, throw, sweep, sift or deposit ashes, rubbish, garbage, refuse or waste of any kind, liquid or solid, in or upon any public way or other public place, or into any river, canal, public water, drain, sewer or receiving basin. Vehicles hauling waste must be covered while moving on any street or alley in the city.
(a) Depositing of litter prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person, in person or by his agent, employee or servant, to cast, throw, sweep, sift or deposit in any manner in or upon any public way or other public place in the City of Nicholasville, or any river, canal, public water, drain, sewer or receiving basin within the jurisdiction of the city government, any ashes, rubbish, garbage, refuse or waste of any kind, whether liquid or solid. ... (b) Vehicles to be covered. It shall be unlawful for any person, in person or by his agent, employee or servant, to use any vehicle to haul any ashes, rubbish, garbage, refuse or waste of any kind, whether liquid or solid, unless such vehicle is covered to prevent any part of its contents from spilling or dropping at all times while such vehicle is in motion on any street or alley in the city.
Official source re-checked November 3, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Local legislation current through Ord. No. 175-2024, dated 1-13-25 | State legislation current through 2024 Acts).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 11-1(a) bars depositing ashes, rubbish, garbage, refuse or waste in or upon any public way or other public place in the City of Nicholasville, and in any river, canal, public water, drain, sewer or receiving basin within the city government's jurisdiction. The same paragraph reaches waste placed anywhere in the city in a way that sun, wind, rain or snow can carry into those places. It does not apply to material deposited under a permit authorized by a city ordinance, to goods, wares or merchandise left temporarily in the necessary course of trade and removed within two (2) hours, or to items conducted into the city sewer system through lawful drains.
Sec. 11-1(b) covers hauling. No one may use a vehicle to haul ashes, rubbish, garbage, refuse or waste unless it is covered to prevent any part of the contents spilling or dropping while the vehicle is in motion on any street or alley in the city. Loads of brush cuttings, tree trimmings, branches, logs and similar waste material are excused from the covering rule only if securely lashed to prevent spilling or dropping.
Two neighboring provisions fill in the rest. Sec. 18-6(4) makes it unlawful to dispose of solid waste at any facility or location which is not approved, and Sec. 18-6(1) bars putting solid waste in someone else's container to avoid the service charge. Sec. 11-3(a)(1) treats ashes, rubbish, garbage, lumber, bricks, cinder blocks, insulation materials and building debris kept on premises, construction sites included, as a nuisance.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 11-1 prints no penalty of its own. Where no specific penalty is provided, Sec. 1-10(a) sets a fine not exceeding $250 and not less than $10, and Sec. 1-10(b) lets the city abate a nuisance. Chapter 11 cases go to the Code Enforcement Board, whose schedule lists a Garbage line of $50, $100 and $150 for first, second and later uncontested offenses, and maximums of $150, $300 and $500 after a hearing. Under Sec. 11-4(k)(5) each violation of that section is also a misdemeanor, with a criminal fine up to $500 or up to twelve (12) months in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to leave trash on a Nicholasville street or in a storm drain?
Do I have to cover a truck bed carrying junk in Nicholasville?
Can I take solid waste to any dump site?
What fine applies to a dumping violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nicholasville
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