St. George, UT Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Prohibited citywide
- every zone, no exceptions by zone
- Covers
- junk, garbage, rubbish, ashes, slag, industrial waste
- Fill exception
- graded excavated dirt, sand, rock, buried concrete
- Default penalty
- class B misdemeanor, up to $1,000 fine
Summary
St. George bans dumping scrap metal, junk, garbage, rubbish, ashes, slag or industrial waste on land in every zone citywide, with a narrow exception for graded excavated fill.
The use of land for the dumping or disposal of scrap metal, junk, garbage, rubbish or other refuse, or of ashes, slag, or other industrial wastes or byproducts, shall be prohibited in every zone, except as otherwise provided in city ordinances.
B. Excavated Fill Material: The dumping of dirt, sand, rock or other material excavated from the earth shall be permitted in any zone; provided, that the surface of such dumped material is graded, leaving the ground surface in a condition suitable for other use permitted in the zone; and provided further, that such fill does not increase the susceptibility of the ground to erosion, landslide, flooding or other dangerous condition. Concrete may be dumped as fill in excavations where it will be buried and not remain on the land surface.
C. Topsoil: No person, firm or corporation shall strip, excavate or otherwise remove topsoil for sale or for use other than on the premises from which the same shall be taken, except in connection with the construction or alteration of a building on those premises or where an excavation permit has been issued by the city. (Ord. 2020-02-006 § 2 (Att.), 2-6-2020)
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-062, passed August 6, 2026).
Full Breakdown
City code prohibits using land anywhere in St. George for dumping or disposal of scrap metal, junk, garbage, rubbish, or other refuse, or ashes, slag, or industrial wastes or byproducts, in every zone unless another city ordinance allows it. A separate carve-out lets dirt, sand, rock or excavated fill be dumped if graded to a usable surface and not prone to erosion, landslide or flooding; buried concrete fill is allowed too. Unauthorized topsoil removal for sale is also barred.
Violations & Fines
No classification is stated in the dumping section itself, so the code default applies: an unspecified prohibited act is a class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and up to 6 months in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I dump construction debris on my own lot in St. George?
Is dumping excavated dirt from a project allowed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. George
Compare St. George to another location·View the Utah trash & recycling overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.