Ramsey County, MN Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Criminal law
- Minn. Stat. §609.68
- Criminal level
- Petty misdemeanor
- Civil penalty
- Minn. Stat. §115A.99
- Civil amount
- 2×–5× cleanup cost
- Applies
- Public and private land
Summary
Dumping garbage, litter, or waste on public or private land in Ramsey County (Minnesota) is illegal statewide. Minn. Stat. §609.68 makes unlawful deposit of litter a petty misdemeanor, and §115A.99 adds a civil penalty of two-to-five times the government's cleanup cost.
Whoever unlawfully deposits garbage, rubbish, cigarette filters, debris from fireworks, offal, or the body of a dead animal, or other litter in or upon any public highway, public waters or the ice thereon, shoreland areas adjacent to rivers or streams as defined by section 103F.205, public lands, or, without the consent of the owner, private lands or water or ice thereon, is guilty of a petty misdemeanor.
Full Breakdown
Illegal dumping is governed by Minnesota state law, which applies everywhere in Ramsey County. Under Minn. Stat. §609.68, unlawfully depositing garbage, rubbish, cigarette filters, fireworks debris, offal, a dead animal, or other litter on public highways, waters, public lands, or private land without the owner's consent is a petty misdemeanor. On top of the criminal charge, Minn. Stat. §115A.99 imposes a civil penalty of not less than twice and not more than five times the cost a government agency incurs to remove, process, and dispose of the waste. Cities also enforce their own dumping and nuisance codes, and Ramsey County's yard-waste and HHW sites give residents legal disposal options.
Violations & Fines
Petty misdemeanor under §609.68, plus a civil penalty of 2×–5× the government's removal, processing, and disposal costs under §115A.99; injured landowners may join to recover damages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the penalty for illegal dumping in Minnesota?
Can I dump on my own vacant lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ramsey County
Compare Ramsey County to another location·View the Minnesota trash & recycling overview
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