Phoenix, AZ Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Civil sanction range
- $100 to $2,500
- Criminal charge
- Class 1 misdemeanor
- Extra cost
- Restitution for cleanup costs
- Repeat violations
- Each day = separate offense
- Jurisdiction
- Phoenix Municipal Court
Summary
Dumping solid or hazardous waste on any street, alley, right-of-way, or property in Phoenix is a violation carrying a civil sanction and criminal misdemeanor charge, plus mandatory cleanup restitution.
A. It is a violation for any person to dump, dispose, release, or cause to be dumped, disposed or released, any solid waste or hazardous waste upon any street, alley, right-of-way, or public or private property within the City except as specifically permitted in this chapter or at a disposal site authorized by the Maricopa County Health Department, Arizona Department of Health Services, or Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. B. Penalty. Violation of subsection A of this section is punishable pursuant to Section 27-35.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance G-7524, passed June 17, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Phoenix City Code § 27-10 bars dumping, disposing, or releasing solid or hazardous waste on any street, alley, right-of-way, or public or private property unless done at a site authorized by the Maricopa County Health Department or state environmental/health agencies. Violators face a civil sanction of $100 to $2,500 under § 27-35(A), are separately guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor under § 27-35(B), and must reimburse the City for all cleanup and disposal costs under § 27-10(C). Each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense.
Violations & Fines
Civil sanction $100-$2,500 per § 27-35(A); Class 1 misdemeanor per § 27-35(B); restitution for City cleanup/disposal costs; each day is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is illegal dumping a crime or just a fine in Phoenix?
Where can I legally dispose of solid waste in Phoenix?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Phoenix
Compare Phoenix to another location·View the Arizona trash & recycling overview
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Illegal Dumping in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle illegal dumping.