St. Louis, MO Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- First conviction
- $100-$1,000 fine, 3 days jail
- Second conviction
- $300-$1,000 fine, 5 days jail
- Third+ conviction
- Up to 30 days jail
- Alternative
- 40 hours community service allowed
- Tipster reward
- $100-$200 from Lot Maintenance Fund
Summary
Dumping debris, trash, or refuse on another's property or public land without permission is a misdemeanor in St. Louis, with escalating fines and mandatory jail time starting at the first offense.
No person, natural or legal, shall deposit debris, trash, refuse or the like upon the real property of another or on public land or property, without lawful permission or authority. ... For the first conviction, by a minimum fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00), and a maximum fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) and incarcerated in the City Jail for three (3) days
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 11).
Full Breakdown
Under St. Louis Revised Code § 15.80.010, depositing debris, trash, refuse or similar waste on someone else's property or public land without lawful permission is banned citywide. § 15.80.020 sets tiered penalties: a first conviction draws a fine of $100 to $1,000 plus three days in the City Jail; a second conviction draws $300 to $1,000 plus five days; a third or later conviction carries the second-offense minimum fine and up to thirty days in jail. Courts may substitute forty hours of public service for jail time. Half of each fine funds the Department of Forestry's Lot Maintenance Fund, which restores dumped-on properties; tipsters leading to a conviction can earn a $100-$200 reward.
Violations & Fines
Dumping debris or refuse on another's property or public land without permission is a misdemeanor, fined $100-$1,000 with jail time that increases with repeat convictions, up to 30 days for a third offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as illegal dumping in St. Louis?
What happens on a first illegal dumping conviction?
Where do the fines from dumping convictions go?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Louis
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