Hillsborough County, FL Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sec. 130-23
- Permit required from
- EPC, State Forestry, or other agency
- Accumulation trigger
- More than 7 days
- Enforcement
- Code Enforcement Board or misdemeanor charge
- Applies to
- Public or private property countywide
Summary
Dumping, burning or disposing of solid waste anywhere in Hillsborough County without an Environmental Protection Commission or state permit is unlawful, and any accumulation over seven days is presumed a violation.
The dumping, burning and disposal of solid waste on either public or private property within the jurisdictional boundaries of this article may only occur in accordance with permits specifically issued by the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission, the State Division of Forestry or any other State or County Agency.
(c) As stated previously, it shall be unlawful for the owner of real property to have accumulations of solid waste.
(1) The fact that any place of abode or place of business is occupied shall be prima facie evidence that solid waste is being produced and accumulated upon such premises and that charges for the collection and disposal thereof are due.
(2) Accumulation of solid waste for more than seven days shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this article.
(3) The County, upon finding evidence of accumulation, shall notify the person or persons committing the violation to remove or cause to be removed same within 24 hours.
(4) The County may, in order to avoid the creation of a public nuisance, undertake any required correctional procedures, including the removal of the accumulation if necessary. The cost or expense of such removal or correctional procedures shall be paid by the violator.
(5) Any monies due and owing the County for the removal or other correctional
Full Breakdown
County code makes it unlawful to dump, burn or dispose of solid waste on public or private property anywhere in the service area without a permit from the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission, the State Division of Forestry, or another state or county agency. Property owners who let solid waste accumulate for more than seven days are presumed to be in violation. The County can order removal within 24 hours, perform the cleanup itself and bill the owner, and refer continued violations to the Code Enforcement Board or prosecute as a state misdemeanor.
Violations & Fines
Illegal dumping, unpermitted burning or disposal of solid waste, or letting waste accumulate over seven days triggers a County notice, possible county-performed cleanup billed to the owner, Code Enforcement Board referral, and misdemeanor prosecution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to dump yard debris on my own vacant lot in Hillsborough County?
How long can trash accumulate on my property before it's a violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hillsborough County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Hillsborough County to another location·View the Florida trash & recycling overview
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