Novato, CA Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)

Section 7-2 of the Novato Municipal Code, Dumping Garbage and Hazardous Waste, reaches any person, firm or corporation, whether as principal, agent, employee or otherwise, that creates, causes, commits or maintains the listed conditions. Subsection a covers trash, garbage, refuse or rubbish placed, deposited, dumped, maintained or permitted in any public park, square, school, street or highway (sidewalk and parkway included), bay, lake, waterway, drainageway, easement or other public place. Subsection b covers the same material on private property so as to be dangerous or injurious to health.

The section goes further than household trash. Subsection c covers mud, dirt or other foreign matter carried onto or deposited on a public street or highway by a truck or other vehicle, whether it escapes from the load or drops from wheels or tires. Subsection d covers extremely hazardous waste, hazardous waste or infectious waste as defined in Health and Safety Code Section 25115 et seq., or a toxic substance as defined in Health and Safety Code Section 28745, spilled on public or private property. Subsection e covers property kept in a condition that creates dust causing perceptible injury to adjacent properties or pollutes the air.

Each violation is an infraction punished under section 1-5.1: a fine not exceeding $100 for a first violation, not exceeding $200 for a second violation of the same provisions within one year, and not exceeding $500 for any subsequent violation within one year. Section 1-5.2 treats every day a violation continues as a separate offense.

The Novato Anti-Litter Ordinance in section 14-6 adds its own bans. Section 14-6.3 bars throwing or depositing litter on any street, sidewalk or other public place except in public receptacles, authorized private receptacles or official city dumps. Section 14-6.7 reaches litter thrown from vehicles, and section 14-6.20 reaches vacant lots. Under section 14-6.23, a violation of section 14-6 is a misdemeanor with a fine not exceeding $100 or county jail not exceeding ten days, or both.