Sumter County, SC Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- County dumping fine
- $100 to $200 plus 3 hrs service
- Missing construction-site container
- $100/day penalty
- State-law max penalty (>500 lbs)
- $500-$1,000 or 1 year jail
- Enforcement
- 2 Sheriff litter deputies
- Ordinance adopted
- Ord. No. 00-387, 7-25-2000
Summary
Dumping litter or debris in unincorporated Sumter County carries a $100 to $200 fine plus three hours of public service under Code Section 20-255. Two Sheriff's-department litter deputies enforce county and state anti-litter law, and larger state-law dumping penalties can reach $1,000 or a year in jail.
(1)Section 16-11-700: Dumping litter on private or public property prohibited; exceptions; responsibility for removal; penalties: This section provides for a $200.00 to $300.00 fine, plus a minimum of five hours public service, or imprisonment for not more than 30 days for violation where the amount of litter is less than 15 pounds in weight or 27 cubic feet in volume. ... It shall be unlawful in the unincorporated area of the county for any person to place, throw, drop, deposit, discard or otherwise dispose of any litter or other debris in a grossly negligent manner which will likely result in such debris finding its way upon the public or private properties in such area. The penalty for violation of this section shall be not less than $100.00 or more than $200.00, plus three hours of public service.
Full Breakdown
Article IV of Chapter 20, adopted by Ordinance No. 00-387 in 2000, targets litter and illegal dumping across the unincorporated county. 00 plus three hours of public service. 00-per-day penalty for each day either is missing. C. 00 if litter is dumped at a facility not intended for public deposit. Section 20-256 created two Sheriff's Department litter control deputy positions and two correctional-center litter guard positions specifically to investigate violations, obtain warrants, and run litter-gathering details using inmates and community-service workers, targeting daily litter pickup six days a week.
Violations & Fines
A basic county dumping violation under Section 20-255(a) draws a fine of $100.00 to $200.00 plus three hours of public service; missing a required construction-site trash container or toilet costs $100.00 for each day it stays missing. State-law dumping violations enforced alongside the county rule under Section 20-254 scale up to $500.00 to $1,000.00 or one year in jail for amounts over 500 pounds, with a flat $1,000.00 penalty for dumping at a facility not open to public deposit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the fine for illegal dumping in unincorporated Sumter County?
Do construction sites need a trash container in Sumter County?
Who enforces litter and dumping laws in Sumter County?
Can dumping penalties exceed the county's $200 fine?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sumter County
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