Santa Maria, CA Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)

01 of the Weeds and Rubbish on Private Property chapter bars anyone, person, firm or corporation, from depositing or causing to be deposited rubbish, paper, tree or brush trimmings, earth, rock, garbage, ashes or other debris on public or private property within the City; the prohibition applies broadly and is not limited to the property owner, so it reaches anyone who dumps material on someone else's lot, a vacant parcel, or public land such as a street or alley. 03 separately targets debris left to accumulate that becomes a fire menace or fire hazard, harbors rodents or insects, or otherwise threatens the community's life, health, comfort or convenience; unlike the flat deposit ban, this section requires the City to first give notice before the property owner is in violation for failing to remove such debris.

03 apply independently: dumping is unlawful the moment it happens, while hazardous debris accumulation becomes unlawful only after notice and a failure to clear it. 06 makes clear the chapter's removal methods are not exclusive, so the City can also pursue removal under any other applicable State law or City ordinance. Enforcement generally falls to the City's Code Compliance Division, which can issue notices and pursue the misdemeanor penalty, and because the general nuisance provisions of the Code treat ongoing violations as continuing offenses, dumped material left in place can expose the responsible party to cumulative daily liability while it remains on the property.