Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup
Key FactsOrdinance TextFull BreakdownViolationsFAQSourcesMore in Kitsap County

Kitsap County, WA Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)

Heavy Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Penalty
$250 per day per violation
Repeat violations
Penalty may be doubled
Enforcing agency
DCD or Public Works director
Emergency exception
Immediate-threat dumping skips civil infraction step
Interference penalty
Up to 90 days jail and/or $1,000 fine
Jurisdiction
Unincorporated Kitsap County only

Summary

Dumping any waste on public or private property that isn't a designated legal dump site is a public nuisance in unincorporated Kitsap County under Code § 9.56.020(10)(b)(vii). The county can go straight to abatement without a warning if the dumping threatens health or safety, and violators face a $250-per-day monetary penalty plus cleanup costs.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Kitsap County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Illegal dumping including, but not limited to, dumping of any type by any person on public or private property not designated as a legal dump site; and

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4864424; v0 updated 2025-12-08; through 12-08-2025).

Full Breakdown

56. 020(10)(b)(viii), separately treats dumping garbage, debris, gravel, earth, logs or brush into the banks, channels, or beds of navigable waterways as its own nuisance category. 56 abatement, but that prerequisite is waived when conditions pose an immediate threat to public health, safety, or the environment. 050. 060(6). This chapter reaches unincorporated Kitsap County only; Bremerton, Port Orchard, Poulsbo, and Bainbridge Island enforce dumping violations under their own municipal codes.

Violations & Fines

The monetary penalty is $250.00 per day or portion of a day the illegal dumping remains uncorrected, set by the violations hearing examiner under § 9.56.040(5), and the hearing examiner may double that penalty for a repeat violation. Anyone who knowingly hinders a county employee cleaning up an illegal dump site commits a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine under § 9.56.060(5), and abatement costs attach as a lien on the property.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly counts as illegal dumping under the county code?
Dumping of any type by any person on public or private property not designated as a legal dump site, per § 9.56.020(10)(b)(vii). It applies regardless of the type or amount of material dumped.
Does the county have to warn me before cleaning up dumped waste?
Usually yes, through the civil infraction and notice-of-abatement process, but § 9.56.035 lets the county skip straight to abatement without prior notice when the dumped material poses an immediate threat to public health, safety, or the environment.
How much is the fine for illegal dumping?
$250 per day or portion of a day the violation continues, once the violations hearing examiner affirms a notice of abatement under § 9.56.040(5). Repeat violations can be assessed at double that rate.
Will the county bill me if it hauls away the dumped material?
Yes. The county recovers its personnel, hauling, storage, and disposal costs from the responsible person or property owner under § 9.56.060(4), and any unpaid balance becomes a lien against the real property.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Kitsap County

Collection ScheduleSome RestrictionsRecycling RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsPickup Rules & SchedulesSome RestrictionsRecycling RequirementsSome RestrictionsYard Waste CollectionSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Vehicle NoiseSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSome Restrictions

All Kitsap County rules

Compare Kitsap County to another location·View the Washington trash & recycling overview

Get notified when Illegal Dumping in Kitsap County, WA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.