Dumping trash, furniture, mattresses, construction debris, or yard waste on any street, lot, alley, or wash within Riverside violates both Riverside Municipal Code Chapter 9.16 (Litter) and California Penal Code §374.3. State law sets a mandatory $250–$1,000 fine for a first offense, doubled for waste tires, and $1,000–$3,000 plus possible jail for commercial quantities (≥1 cubic yard).
Riverside Municipal Code Chapter 9.16 prohibits depositing or scattering litter and waste matter on public or private property within the city. Beyond the local ordinance, California Penal Code §374.3 sets statewide mandatory fines: $250–$1,000 for a first conviction, $500–$1,500 for a second, and $750–$3,000 for a third or subsequent conviction of non-commercial dumping; for waste tires, the fine is doubled. Where the waste was generated in the course of a trade or business or exceeds one cubic yard ('commercial quantities'), §374.3(h) makes the offense a misdemeanor punishable by $1,000–$3,000 and up to six months in county jail on a first conviction, escalating to $5,000–$10,000 on a third. The court may also order up to 24 hours of community service for each violation and require the offender to remove and properly dispose of the dumped material at their own expense. Riverside accepts illegal-dumping reports through the 311 system (RiversideCA.gov/311 or 951-826-5311) and dispatches City crews under Chapter 9.16 to clean up and pursue cost recovery from identified dumpers. The City partners with Riverside County Code Enforcement (Ord. 745 / 840) for vehicle impoundment of trucks used to dump.
First-offense fines run $250 minimum (Pen. Code §374.3(a)) — doubled to $500 minimum for waste tires. Commercial-quantity dumping (≥1 cu yd) is a misdemeanor under Pen. Code §374.3(h) carrying $1,000–$3,000 and up to 6 months in jail on a first conviction, with the court also ordering removal of the waste at the defendant's expense plus up to 24 hours community service. Under Riverside County Ordinance 840 the vehicle used to dump may be seized and impounded. Local prosecution under RMC Chapter 9.16 follows the Title 1 infraction ladder ($100 / $200 / $500) and may run concurrently with state charges.
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