{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/33.2-802.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/33.2-802.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/33.2-802.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/33.2-802.html"}],"law_id":78222,"edition_id":1,"section_id":78222,"structure_id":15048,"section_number":"33.2-802","catch_line":"Dumping trash; penalty","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 33-279.1; 1950, p. 453; 1970, c. 264, \u00a7 33.1-346; 1972, c. 65; 1976, c. 773; 1978, c. 226; 1981, c. 340; 1988, c. 805; 1995, c. 657; 2000, c. 20; 2003, cc. 113, 787; 2013, c. 156; 2014, c. 805; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 175.","full_text":"A\n\nIt is unlawful for any person to dump or otherwise dispose of trash, garbage, refuse, litter, a companion animal as defined in § 3.2-6500 for the purpose of disposal, or other unsightly matter on (i) public property, including a public highway, right-of-way, or property adjacent to such highway or right-of-way, or (ii) private property without the written consent of the owner or his agent.B\n\nIf a person is arrested for a violation of this section and the matter alleged to have been illegally dumped or disposed of has been ejected from a motor vehicle or transported to the disposal site in a motor vehicle, the arresting officer may comply with the provisions of § 46.2-936 in making an arrest.\n\t\t\tIf a violation of this section has been observed by any person and the matter illegally dumped or disposed of has been ejected or removed from a motor vehicle, the owner or operator of the motor vehicle shall be presumed to be the person ejecting or disposing of the matter. However, such presumption shall be rebuttable by competent evidence.C\n\nAny person convicted of a violation of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by confinement in jail for not more than 12 months and a fine of not less than $500 or more than $2,500, either or both. In lieu of the imposition of confinement in jail, the court may order the defendant to perform a mandatory minimum of 10 hours of community service in litter abatement activities.D\n\nThe governing body of any locality may adopt ordinances not in conflict with the provisions of this section and may repeal or amend such ordinances.E\n\nThe provisions of this section shall not apply to the lawful disposal of such matter in landfills.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":280353,"text":"It is unlawful for any person to dump or otherwise dispose of trash, garbage, refuse, litter, a companion animal as defined in § 3.2-6500 for the purpose of disposal, or other unsightly matter on (i) public property, including a public highway, right-of-way, or property adjacent to such highway or right-of-way, or (ii) private property without the written consent of the owner or his agent.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":280354,"text":"If a person is arrested for a violation of this section and the matter alleged to have been illegally dumped or disposed of has been ejected from a motor vehicle or transported to the disposal site in a motor vehicle, the arresting officer may comply with the provisions of § 46.2-936 in making an arrest.\n\t\t\tIf a violation of this section has been observed by any person and the matter illegally dumped or disposed of has been ejected or removed from a motor vehicle, the owner or operator of the motor vehicle shall be presumed to be the person ejecting or disposing of the matter. However, such presumption shall be rebuttable by competent evidence.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":280355,"text":"Any person convicted of a violation of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by confinement in jail for not more than 12 months and a fine of not less than $500 or more than $2,500, either or both. In lieu of the imposition of confinement in jail, the court may order the defendant to perform a mandatory minimum of 10 hours of community service in litter abatement activities.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":280356,"text":"The governing body of any locality may adopt ordinances not in conflict with the provisions of this section and may repeal or amend such ordinances.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":280357,"text":"The provisions of this section shall not apply to the lawful disposal of such matter in landfills.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15048,"edition_id":1,"name":"Offenses Concerning Highways","identifier":"8","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12830,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:51:44","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:51:44","permalink":{"id":206311,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15048,"identifier":"8","token":"33.2\/II\/8","url":"\/33.2\/II\/8\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12830,"edition_id":1,"name":"Modes of Transportation: Highways, Bridges, Ferries, Rail, and Public Transportation","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12806,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":205369,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12830,"identifier":"II","token":"33.2\/II","url":"\/33.2\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12806,"edition_id":1,"name":"Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems","identifier":"33.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","permalink":{"id":204785,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12806,"identifier":"33.2","token":"33.2","url":"\/33.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":57364,"structure_id":15048,"section_number":"33.2-800","catch_line":"Definition","url":"\/33.2-800\/","token":"33.2\/II\/8\/33.2-800","metadata":false},{"id":76287,"structure_id":15048,"section_number":"33.2-801","catch_line":"Cutting or damaging trees; damaging bridges; damaging markers; obstructing highways; penalty","url":"\/33.2-801\/","token":"33.2\/II\/8\/33.2-801","metadata":false},{"id":78222,"structure_id":15048,"section_number":"33.2-802","catch_line":"Dumping trash; penalty","url":"\/33.2-802\/","token":"33.2\/II\/8\/33.2-802","metadata":false},{"id":69747,"structure_id":15048,"section_number":"33.2-803","catch_line":"Dump creating fire hazard to public bridge; penalty","url":"\/33.2-803\/","token":"33.2\/II\/8\/33.2-803","metadata":false},{"id":69317,"structure_id":15048,"section_number":"33.2-804","catch_line":"Junkyards; penalty","url":"\/33.2-804\/","token":"33.2\/II\/8\/33.2-804","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":76287,"structure_id":15048,"section_number":"33.2-801","catch_line":"Cutting or damaging trees; damaging bridges; damaging markers; obstructing highways; penalty","url":"\/33.2-801\/","token":"33.2\/II\/8\/33.2-801","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":69747,"structure_id":15048,"section_number":"33.2-803","catch_line":"Dump creating fire hazard to public bridge; penalty","url":"\/33.2-803\/","token":"33.2\/II\/8\/33.2-803","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/33.2-802\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 11 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1970, chapter 264; in 1972, chapter 65; in 1976, chapter 773; in 1978, chapter 226; in 1981, chapter 340; in 1988, chapter 805; in 1995, chapter 657<\/a>; in 2000, chapter 20<\/a>; in 2003, chapters 113<\/a> and 787<\/a>; in 2013, chapter 156<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 805<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":65516,"section_number":"10.1-200.2","catch_line":"Littering in state parks; civil penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-200.2\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":86401,"section_number":"3.2-6500","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6500\/"},{"id":81229,"section_number":"46.2-936","catch_line":"Arrest for misdemeanor; release on summons; right to demand hearing immediately or within 24 hours; issuance of warrant on request of officer for violations of \u00a7\u00a7 46.2-301 and 46.2-302; violations","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-936\/"}],"permalink":{"id":206321,"object_type":"law","relational_id":78222,"identifier":"33.2-802","token":"33.2\/II\/8\/33.2-802","url":"\/33.2-802\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/33.2-802\/","token":"33.2\/II\/8\/33.2-802","dublin_core":{"Title":"Dumping trash; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 33.2-802","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> It is unlawful for any person to dump or otherwise dispose of trash, garbage, refuse, litter, a companion animal as defined in § 3.2-6500<\/a> for the purpose of disposal, or other unsightly matter on (i) public property, including a public highway<\/span>, right-of-way, or property adjacent to such highway<\/span> or right-of-way, or (ii) private property without the written consent of the owner or his agent. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> If a person is arrested for a violation of this section and the matter alleged to have been illegally dumped or disposed of has been ejected from a motor vehicle or transported to the disposal site in a motor vehicle, the arresting officer may comply with the provisions of § 46.2-936<\/a> in making an arrest<\/span>.\n\t\t\tIf a violation of this section has been observed by any person and the matter illegally dumped or disposed of has been ejected or removed from a motor vehicle, the owner or operator of the motor vehicle shall be presumed to be the person ejecting or disposing of the matter. However, such presumption<\/span> shall be rebuttable by competent evidence<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Any person convicted of a violation of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor<\/span> punishable by confinement in jail for not more than 12 months and a fine of not less than $500 or more than $2,500, either or both. In lieu of the imposition of confinement in jail, the court<\/span> may order<\/span> the defendant<\/span> to perform a mandatory minimum of 10 hours of community service<\/span> in litter abatement activities. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The governing body of any locality may adopt ordinances<\/span> not in conflict with the provisions of this section and may repeal or amend<\/span> such ordinances<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> The provisions of this section shall not apply to the lawful disposal of such matter in landfills. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDUMPING TRASH; PENALTY (\u00a7 33.2-802)\n\nA. It is unlawful for any person to dump or otherwise dispose of trash, garbage,\nrefuse, litter, a companion animal as defined in § 3.2-6500 for the purpose\nof disposal, or other unsightly matter on (i) public property, including a\npublic highway, right-of-way, or property adjacent to such highway or\nright-of-way, or (ii) private property without the written consent of the owner\nor his agent.\n\nB. If a person is arrested for a violation of this section and the matter\nalleged to have been illegally dumped or disposed of has been ejected from a\nmotor vehicle or transported to the disposal site in a motor vehicle, the\narresting officer may comply with the provisions of § 46.2-936 in making an\narrest.\n\t\t\tIf a violation of this section has been observed by any person and the matter\nillegally dumped or disposed of has been ejected or removed from a motor\nvehicle, the owner or operator of the motor vehicle shall be presumed to be the\nperson ejecting or disposing of the matter. However, such presumption shall be\nrebuttable by competent evidence.\n\nC. Any person convicted of a violation of this section is guilty of a\nmisdemeanor punishable by confinement in jail for not more than 12 months and a\nfine of not less than $500 or more than $2,500, either or both. In lieu of the\nimposition of confinement in jail, the court may order the defendant to perform\na mandatory minimum of 10 hours of community service in litter abatement\nactivities.\n\nD. The governing body of any locality may adopt ordinances not in conflict with\nthe provisions of this section and may repeal or amend such ordinances.\n\nE. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the lawful disposal of such\nmatter in landfills.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 33-279.1; 1950, p. 453; 1970, c. 264, \u00a7 33.1-346; 1972,\nc. 65; 1976, c. 773; 1978, c. 226; 1981, c. 340; 1988, c. 805; 1995, c. 657;\n2000, c. 20; 2003, cc. 113, 787; 2013, c. 156; 2014, c. 805; 2021, Sp. Sess. I,\nc. 175.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}