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Plymouth, MN Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)

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

Key Facts

Prohibition
Unlawful to accumulate rubbish, indoors or outdoors
Nuisance triggers
Appearance, odor, litter risk, fire or other hazard
Penalty
Up to $700.00 fine and 90 days, Section 2000.01
Separate offense
Each day of violation counts separately
Disposal duty
Owner must use containers or a licensed collector

Summary

In the City of Plymouth, it is unlawful to let rubbish accumulate anywhere on a property, indoors or outdoors, if it creates a nuisance from appearance, odor, fire danger, or the risk of littering neighboring land, under City Code Section 600.01. Violating that prohibition is a misdemeanor citywide under Section 2000.01, punishable by up to a $700.00 fine and 90 days in jail.

It is unlawful to accumulate or permit to accumulate for whatever time period, any Rubbish, whether indoors or outdoors, on any property in the City which might constitute a nuisance by reason of appearance, odor, sanitation, the possibility of littering neighboring properties, the danger of fire or other type of hazard or to otherwise fail to dispose of Rubbish as required by this Section. ... Any person who violates a provision of this Code is guilty of a Misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof may be punished by a fine of not more than $700.00 and imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days, or both. Each act of violation and every day on which a violation occurs or continues is a separate violation.

Full Breakdown

01, Subdivision 2, within Chapter VI's Garbage and Rubbish Disposal regulations. The prohibition covers any accumulation of rubbish, whether stored indoors or left outdoors, for any length of time, if it might constitute a nuisance because of appearance, odor, sanitation, the danger of littering neighboring properties, fire hazard, or any other type of hazard. 17 backs this up by requiring every property owner or occupant with rubbish to dispose of it to provide sufficient solid waste containers or contract with a licensed collector, rather than simply dumping or stockpiling it on the property.

00, imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both, with each day the violation continues counted as a separate offense. The Plymouth Police Department and Community and Economic Development code enforcement staff handle complaints, and the City can order abatement of the nuisance in addition to any criminal citation. 23's construction-rubbish rule requiring contractors to keep an onsite container for building debris.

Violations & Fines

Letting rubbish accumulate in violation of Section 600.01 is a misdemeanor under the citywide penalty in Section 2000.01: a fine of up to $700.00, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with every day the accumulation continues treated as a separate offense. The City can also pursue nuisance abatement to have the rubbish removed, with the cost charged back to the property owner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is dumping or letting rubbish pile up illegal in Plymouth?
Yes. Plymouth City Code Section 600.01, Subdivision 2 makes it unlawful to accumulate rubbish anywhere on a property, indoors or outdoors, for any length of time, if it creates a nuisance from appearance, odor, sanitation, litter risk, or fire or other hazard. Section 600.17 additionally requires owners to use containers or a licensed collector rather than stockpiling it.
What is the penalty for illegal dumping in Plymouth?
Because Chapter VI does not set its own fine, a rubbish accumulation violation falls under the citywide misdemeanor penalty in Section 2000.01: a fine of up to $700.00, up to 90 days in jail, or both. Each day the rubbish stays in violation counts as a separate offense, so the exposure grows the longer it sits.
Who enforces Plymouth's illegal dumping rules?
Community and Economic Development code enforcement staff and the Plymouth Police Department handle rubbish accumulation complaints under Section 600.01, and the City can order the nuisance abated with the cost assessed back to the property owner in addition to any misdemeanor citation issued under Section 2000.01.
Does taking recyclables someone set out at the curb count as illegal dumping in Plymouth?
No, that is a separate offense. Section 600.27 makes it a misdemeanor for anyone other than the City's authorized collector to remove recyclable materials after a resident has placed them out for collection, distinct from the general rubbish accumulation prohibition in Section 600.01.

Sources & Official References

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