Pasadena, CA Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- PMC § 8.60.250, Curbside Dumping Prohibited
- Covered items
- Bulky items, solid waste, abandoned vehicles, discarded material
- Only exception
- Items set out during a § 8.60.100 pickup notice
- Special-event items
- Presumed abandoned; city may seize and dispose
- Misdemeanor penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine, 12 months jail (§ 8.60.365)
Summary
Pasadena bans leaving any bulky item, solid waste, abandoned vehicle or discarded material of any kind in a public right-of-way, including the planting strip between curb and sidewalk. Municipal Code Section 8.60.250 carves out only one exception: bulky items set out during a director-announced pickup window under Section 8.60.100.
A.Curbside Dumping Prohibited. No person shall leave or dump any bulky item, solid waste, excluded material, abandoned vehicle or discarded material, of any kind or nature, in any public right-of-way, including but without limitation in the planting strip located between the curb and the sidewalk of any property, except that bulky items and other specified items may be left for pickup in accordance with and at the times set forth in a notice given pursuant to Section 8.60.100.B.Bulky Items Abandoned After Special Events. Any bulky item which remains unattended in the public right-of-way following a special event shall be presumed to have been intentionally abandoned by the owner, and the city may immediately take possession of, and the title to said item for the purpose of disposal or for any other public purpose.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 79 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
250(A) prohibits leaving or dumping any bulky item, solid waste, excluded material, abandoned vehicle or discarded material of any kind or nature in a public right-of-way, expressly including the planting strip between the curb and the sidewalk. 100; outside that notice window, curbside placement is unlawful dumping regardless of intent. Subsection B addresses material left behind after a special event: any bulky item that remains unattended in the right-of-way once a special event ends is presumed to have been intentionally abandoned by its owner, and the city may immediately take possession of and title to the item to dispose of it or use it for any other public purpose, without further notice to the owner.
365, which makes any misdemeanor violation of Title 8's solid waste provisions punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, up to 12 months in county jail, or both, and separately authorizes civil penalties, late fees and administrative charges the city council sets by resolution for violations handled through the administrative citation process instead of criminal court.
Violations & Fines
Dumping a bulky item, solid waste, an abandoned vehicle or any other discarded material at the curb outside an announced pickup window is a misdemeanor under Section 8.60.365(A), carrying up to a $1,000 fine, up to 12 months in jail, or both. The city can also pursue the offense as a civil violation with penalties and administrative fees set by council resolution, and may seize and dispose of anything abandoned in the right-of-way after a special event under Section 8.60.250(B).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I leave old furniture at the curb in Pasadena?
What happens to items left over after a street fair or festival?
What's the penalty for illegal dumping in Pasadena?
Does the dumping ban cover the strip between the curb and sidewalk?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pasadena
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Illegal Dumping in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle illegal dumping.