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Palm Coast, FL Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)

Heavy Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Prohibited locations
Streets, sidewalks, ROW, parks, ditches, ponds, private property
Prohibited acts list
27 acts listed in Sec. 41-17(a)
Uncleared waste
City may remove after 24-hr notice, bill owner
Penalty basis
Maximum penalty under Florida Statute 162.22
Repeat/ongoing acts
Each act is a separate violation (Sec. 41-18(e))

Summary

Dumping solid waste or recyclables on someone else's property, in a public street, sidewalk, right-of-way, park or waterway is a prohibited act under Sec. 41-17(a) of Palm Coast's Code. Violators face the maximum penalty allowed under Florida Statute 162.22, and the City can remove uncleared waste itself and bill the property owner.

(a)It is prohibited and unlawful for any person to do any of the following:(1)To place, or cause to be placed any solid waste or recyclables in or upon the property of another or in a dumpster or container of another....(3)To deposit or dispose of any solid waste or recyclables in or upon any public streets, sidewalk, rights-of-way or alleyway or any stream, ditch, river, pond, creek, park or public place in the City.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 44 | Land Development Code: Supplement 18).

Full Breakdown

Sec. 41-17(a) of the Palm Coast Code of Ordinances lists 27 separate prohibited acts covering solid waste and recyclables, and illegal dumping sits at the top of the list. Subsection (a)(1) bars placing solid waste or recyclables on someone else's property or in another person's dumpster or container. Subsection (a)(3) goes further, prohibiting the deposit or disposal of solid waste or recyclables in or upon any public street, sidewalk, right-of-way, alleyway, stream, ditch, river, pond, creek, park or other public place in the City. Subsection (a)(19) closes the loophole for anywhere else, prohibiting placing, depositing, dumping or disposing of solid waste, garbage, trash or other refuse anywhere in the City except in an approved container. Burning solid waste is likewise prohibited under (a)(4), except for trees and brush burned under a permit, and dumping flammable liquids, hazardous waste or explosives into any container is separately barred under (a)(9).

Enforcement does not stop at the fine. If an owner has not removed nonconforming solid waste, industrial waste, hazardous waste or noncombustible refuse within 24 hours of City notification, Sec. 41-17(b) lets the City order that removal itself and charge the cost back to the property owner. Sec. 41-18(a) punishes any violation of Chapter 41, including illegal dumping, to the maximum extent allowed under Florida Statute 162.22, and Sec. 41-18(e) treats each act of violation as a separate offense, so a dumping incident involving multiple loads or multiple days can generate multiple citations.

Violations & Fines

Illegal dumping under Sec. 41-17(a)(1), (3) and (19) is punished to the maximum extent allowed under Florida Statute 162.22 per Sec. 41-18(a), with each act treated as a separate violation under Sec. 41-18(e). If waste is not removed within 24 hours of notice, the City can clear it under Sec. 41-17(b) and bill the property owner for the cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it illegal to dump yard debris on a vacant lot in Palm Coast?
Yes. Sec. 41-17(a)(1) prohibits placing solid waste, including yard debris, on the property of another person, and Sec. 41-17(a)(3) separately bars dumping in public streets, rights-of-way, ditches, ponds, creeks and parks. Both are prohibited acts under Chapter 41, punishable to the maximum extent allowed under Florida Statute 162.22.
What happens if I do not clean up dumped waste after the City tells me to?
Sec. 41-17(b) gives the City authority to order removal of nonconforming waste if the property owner has not acted within 24 hours of notification. The City can then perform the removal itself and charge the cost back to the owner, in addition to any penalty assessed under Sec. 41-18.
Can I burn brush or trash instead of hauling it away?
Only with a permit. Sec. 41-17(a)(4) prohibits burning solid waste or recyclables generated in the City, except for trees and brush burned under permits obtained from the City and other applicable agencies in accordance with federal, state and local law.

Sources & Official References

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