Rapides Parish, LA Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)

Section 13-4 of the parish's garbage, trash and weeds chapter prohibits dumping, dropping, or placing garbage, trash, refuse, waste, debris, limbs, trees, dead animals, scrap automobiles, scrap parts, or any other discarded article on private property anywhere in Rapides Parish without first obtaining the property owner's consent. The chapter carries several companion dumping bans covering other locations: Section 13-1 separately bars dumping that blocks or partially blocks road drainage ditches, Section 13-2 bars dumping on or near public roads, and Section 13-9 bars dumping in Bayou Roberts, each with its own penalty.

Section 13-5 additionally requires a written permit from the police jury secretary before dumping dead animals, automobile bodies, or large appliances on parish-provided public dumping grounds. S. 30:2173(2)) and give jurisdiction over litter cases to the Rapides Parish Litter Court, any justice of the peace court, or the Ninth Judicial District Court. Anyone who spots an illegal dump on their own or a neighbor's property can bring it to the Parish Public Works Director, and interested persons may file charges directly when notified violators fail to clean up filthy accumulations within the code's notice periods.