St. Martin Parish, LA Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Who is liable
- Owner of property in unincorporated St. Martin Parish
- Knowledge standard
- Applies whether knowingly or unknowingly
- Fine under Sec. 36-7(d)
- $100.00 to $500.00 per day
- Jail under Sec. 36-7(d)
- 30 days in the parish jail, or both
- Chapter-wide penalty (Sec. 36-15)
- $125.00 to $500.00 and two days to six months
- Parish parks
- Bins limited to waste from legitimate park use
Summary
Sec. 36-7 makes it unlawful for a property owner in unincorporated St. Martin Parish to allow, knowingly or unknowingly, trash, refuse or garbage to be dumped on the property. A violator is fined not less than $100.00 per day nor more than $500.00 per day, or serves 30 days in the parish jail, or both.
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person owning any property in the unincorporated area of the parish to allow, whether knowingly or unknowingly, the dumping, leaving or depositing of any trash, refuse, garbage or any other items of discarded material or property of whatever kind or nature upon such property.(b)It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or to allow the existence of a trash or garbage dump or landfill upon such property without the prior approval of the parish.(c)It shall be unlawful for any person, to dump, leave, or deposit any trash, refuse, garbage, or any other items of discarded material or property of whatever kind or nature in trash receptacles, including bins, located in any parish recreational park or facility located in the said recreational park or facility unless the trash, refuse, garbage, or other item of discarded material or property has been generated in connection with the legitimate use of the recreational park or facility. ... (d)Any person in violation of this section shall be fined not less than $100.00 per day nor more than $500.00 per day or serve 30 days in the parish jail, or both.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 36-7 of the St. Martin Parish Code puts the burden on the landowner. Subsection (a) makes it unlawful for any person owning property in the unincorporated area of the parish to allow, whether knowingly or unknowingly, the dumping, leaving or depositing of trash, refuse, garbage or any other discarded material or property of whatever kind or nature on that property. Because the text covers unknowing allowance, an owner whose vacant lot becomes a dump site is within the rule even without having dumped anything. Subsection (b) separately makes it unlawful to operate, or allow the existence of, a trash or garbage dump or landfill on the property without prior approval of the parish.
Subsection (c) protects parish recreation sites. No one can dump, leave or deposit discarded material in trash receptacles, including bins, at a parish recreational park or facility unless the material was generated in connection with the legitimate use of the park or facility. The section defines recreational park or facility to include any site or structure in the care, custody or control of St. Martin Parish used as or for a community center, multi-purpose building or civic center; athletic or recreational events or activities; walking or running paths or trails; an outdoor pavilion; playground equipment and structures; or a boat landing or dock. The 2023 amendment (Ord. No. 23-02-1382-OR, 2-7-2023) is the latest history note on the section.
Related sections widen the net. Sec. 36-8 applies the same $100.00 to $500.00 per day fine, or 30 days in jail, or both, to allowing hazardous waste or chemicals on property, and requires prior approval of the parish council for any disposal site. Sec. 36-9 makes littering unlawful on any private yard or lot or on any sidewalk, street, alley, wharf, levee, public parkway, public right-of-way, gutter, catchbasin or drainage in the parish. Sec. 36-10 requires the owner or job contractor to store building debris in a metal container, and Sec. 36-14 bars willfully damaging another person's garbage container.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 36-7(d) sets the dumping penalty: not less than $100.00 per day nor more than $500.00 per day, or 30 days in the parish jail, or both. Sec. 36-15 adds a chapter-wide misdemeanor penalty for violations: a fine of $125.00 to $500.00 and imprisonment of not less than two days nor more than six months, with no suspension unless the offender is placed on probation with four eight-hour days of court-approved community service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I liable if someone else dumps on my land?
Can I put household trash in a parish park bin?
How does the penalty differ from the general solid waste penalty?
Does dumping hazardous chemicals carry a different rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Martin Parish
Compare St. Martin Parish to another location·View the Louisiana trash & recycling overview
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