Okaloosa County, FL Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- LDC §§ 9.03.02, 9.03.12
- Criminal fine range
- $50 to $500 per conviction
- Jail exposure
- Up to 60 days in county jail
- Civil fine, burying waste
- $100 under § 12.02.00
- Civil fine, dumping litter
- $500 under § 12.02.00
- Enforcement
- Sheriff's Office, Health Dept., code enforcement
Summary
Dumping litter or waste on public or private property, streets, rights-of-way, or waterways in unincorporated Okaloosa County is a misdemeanor under sections 9.03.02 and 9.03.12 of the Land Development Code, punishable by a fine between $50 and $500, up to 60 days in jail, or both, on top of the civil fines listed in the county's fee schedule.
It is a violation of this ordinance for any person to throw, discard, place, drop or deposit litter in any manner or amount in or upon any public property, private property, highway, street, right-of-way or body of water in Okaloosa County except in areas and containers provided therefore. Reference section 12.02.00 for schedule of fees, which lists the fine for litter violations. ... Any person found guilty of any provisions of this chapter by court of competent jurisdiction shall be punished by fine of not less than $50.00 and not more than $500.00, or a sentence of not more than 60 days in the county jail, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23).
Full Breakdown
02. The same section separately makes it a violation to eject litter from a moving vehicle, to deposit non-litter items in a public litter receptacle, or to dump waste in another person's dumpster or container without permission. " The court can also impose civil penalties on top of that, including requiring the violator to pick up litter or perform other labor tied to the offense. 00 separately lists a $100 civil penalty for "burying waste on public or private property" and a $500 civil penalty for discarding, placing, dropping, or depositing litter on public or private property, streets, rights-of-way, or bodies of water, which code enforcement can pursue in addition to the criminal misdemeanor track. 09.
Violations & Fines
A conviction for illegal dumping under section 9.03.02 carries a misdemeanor fine of $50 to $500, up to 60 days in the county jail, or both, under section 9.03.12, and the court can add civil penalties such as requiring litter clean-up labor. Separately, code enforcement can pursue a $100 civil fine for burying waste or a $500 civil fine for discarding or dumping litter under the schedule at section 12.02.00.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the penalty for illegal dumping in unincorporated Okaloosa County?
Does it count as illegal dumping if I put trash in someone else's dumpster without asking?
Who enforces illegal dumping complaints in Okaloosa County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Okaloosa County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Okaloosa County to another location·View the Florida trash & recycling overview
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