Roanoke, VA Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Criminal penalty
- Class 1 misdemeanor, §§ 14.1-2, 14.1-3(d)
- Admin removal fee
- $100.00 plus actual disposal cost
- Lien threshold
- Unpaid charges over $200
- Notice period
- At least 24 hours to remove waste
- Vehicle dumping presumption
- Owner/operator presumed responsible, rebuttable
Summary
Dumping solid waste anywhere in Roanoke outside a designated disposal site is a Class 1 misdemeanor, and dumping or littering on public property or on private property without the owner's written consent carries the same criminal penalty plus a $100 city removal fee and a possible property lien.
The dumping of solid waste within the limits of the city is prohibited, except at such places within the city as have been specifically designated for solid waste disposal by the council or by the director of health. Any person convicted of violation of this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. ... The dumping, casting, leaving or otherwise disposing of solid waste or other unsightly matter on a public highway, street or right-of-way, park, drainage ditch, culvert, pipe, storm drain or other public property... or on private property, without the written consent of the owner thereof, is prohibited. ... Any person convicted of a violation of this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. ... shall bill the owner responsible for placing the solid waste within the right-of-way plus an administrative processing fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) in addition to the actual cost and fees incurred in the removal and disposal of such solid waste... Every charge in excess of two hundred dollars ($200.00) which has been assessed against the owner of property affected by this section and which remains unpaid shall constitute a lien against such property.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 94 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
1-2 flatly prohibits dumping solid waste within the city limits except at places specifically designated for disposal by council or the director of health, and makes a violation a Class 1 misdemeanor, Virginia's most serious misdemeanor class. 1-3(d) makes that a Class 1 misdemeanor as well. 1-3(b)-(c) lets the arresting officer proceed against the vehicle's owner or operator, who is presumed to be the person who ejected it, subject to rebuttal. 1-3(f)-(g) gives the city manager a civil abatement track: the owner or occupant can be ordered in writing to remove dumped waste from a city right-of-way, given at least 24 hours to comply, and warned that the city can do the removal itself and bill the owner.
1-3(h). 1-3(i) lets the director of finance and city treasurer waive a lien to facilitate a sale to an unrelated buyer, though the underlying obligation stays personal to the original owner.
Violations & Fines
Dumping outside a designated site (§ 14.1-2) or dumping/littering on public or nonconsenting private property (§ 14.1-3) is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Unremoved dumped waste on a right-of-way triggers a city-ordered cleanup with a $100 administrative fee added to actual costs, and unpaid charges over $200 become a recorded property lien enforceable by the city attorney.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the penalty for illegal dumping in Roanoke?
Can Roanoke bill me for cleaning up dumped trash on my property?
Who is responsible if trash is dumped from a moving vehicle?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Roanoke
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