Wake County, NC Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Code § 50.19 / § 50.99(C)
- 1st violation
- $250 civil penalty
- 3rd violation
- $1,000 civil penalty
- Presumption
- Vehicle owner/possessor presumed responsible
Summary
Wake County bans dumping litter on streets, lots or private property, with escalating civil penalties of $250, $500 and $1,000 for repeat violations.
It shall be unlawful for any person to sweep, throw or deposit... any litter into, upon or along a drain, gutter, street, road, highway, sidewalk, alley, vacant or occupied lot, walk, parking lot, embankment, or upon any public or private premises within the county... Any person who is found in violation of § 50.19 shall be subject to a civil penalty of $250 for the first violation, $500 for the second violation and $1,000 for the third violation.
Full Breakdown
Code § 50.19(A) makes it unlawful to sweep, throw or deposit litter into or along any drain, gutter, street, sidewalk, vacant lot, parking lot or public or private premises in the county. Vehicle owners are presumed responsible for litter that falls or blows from their vehicle, and anyone whose litter is identified is presumed responsible for it. Under § 50.99(C)(1), each violation draws a civil penalty of $250 for the first offense, $500 for the second and $1,000 for the third, with each piece of litter treated as a separate offense.
Violations & Fines
Civil penalty of $250 (1st violation), $500 (2nd) and $1,000 (3rd) under G.S. § 153A-123; each article of litter is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the fine for illegal dumping in Wake County?
Who is liable if litter blows out of my truck?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wake County
Compare Wake County to another location·View the North Carolina trash & recycling overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.