Disposal guide
Texas illegal dumping laws: what counts, the penalty tiers and who to report it to
The state law first, with each section cited and linked, then how the cities and counties around Austin take reports.
What Texas law says
| Rule | What it says | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| What is prohibited | It is a crime to dispose of litter or other solid waste anywhere other than an approved solid waste site (including within 300 feet of a public highway, on rights-of-way, on public or private property, or into state waters), and also to receive or transport waste for disposal at an unapproved site. Unauthorized use of someone else's dumpster counts as illegal dumping (statutes.capitol.texas.gov, checked 2026-11-07). | Texas Health & Safety Code §365.012(a)-(c), (j) |
| Penalty tiers | Penalties scale with amount: 5 lb/5 gal or less is a Class C misdemeanor; over 5 lb but under 500 lb (or over 5 gal but under 100 cu ft) is Class B; 500 to under 1,000 lb (or 100 to under 200 cu ft), or over 5 lb but under 200 lb dumped for a commercial purpose, is Class A; 1,000 lb or more, 200 cu ft or more, 200 lb or more for a commercial purpose, or any waste in a closed barrel or drum is a state jail felony. A prior conviction bumps the offense up one category, and courts must order community service and warn that a repeat conviction can lead to vehicle forfeiture (statutes.capitol.texas.gov, checked 2026-11-07). | Texas Health & Safety Code §365.012(d)-(i), (s) |
| Generator/hauler signed statement | A customer (waste generator) creates a rebuttable presumption that they lacked a culpable mental state for felony illegal dumping if, before the hauler takes the waste, they get a signed statement from the hauler that the waste will be disposed of legally, including the hauler's valid Texas driver's license number (statutes.capitol.texas.gov, checked 2026-11-07). | Texas Health & Safety Code §365.012(o) |
Sources (checked Nov 2026): statutes.capitol.texas.gov.
City and county programs
Bastrop County
| Where | What the city or county says |
|---|---|
| Unincorporated Bastrop County | Bastrop County has adopted an Order for Abatement of Public Nuisances, Junked Vehicles and Litter, enforced by Development Services (211 Jackson Street, Bastrop; 512-581-7176) (Bastrop County, checked 2026-11-07). |
Comal County
| Where | What the city or county says |
|---|---|
| Canyon Lake, Comal County (unincorporated), Fischer and Spring Branch | Per comalcounty.gov, checked 2026-11-07: Comal County Environmental Enforcement handles litter complaints under Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 365; when litter is confirmed, the property owner typically gets 30 days to comply, after which enforcement may include a criminal complaint. |
Guadalupe County
| Where | What the city or county says |
|---|---|
| Cibolo, Guadalupe County (unincorporated), Kingsbury, Marion, McQueeney and Seguin | Guadalupe County states that illegal dumping is a serious criminal offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine, and asks residents to report suspected dumping through the county's online form (guadalupetx.gov, checked 2026-11-07). |
Hays County
| Where | What the city or county says |
|---|---|
| Buda | Report spills, illicit discharges and illegal dumping in Buda to City of Buda Public Works at 512-312-2876 or Hays County Dispatch non-emergency at 512-393-7896; call 911 for emergencies (budatx.gov, checked 2026-11-07). |
| Driftwood, Dripping Springs, Unincorporated Hays County and Wimberley | Illegal dumping in Hays County is investigated by criminal investigators commissioned by the Hays County Sheriff's Office and prosecuted by the Hays County Criminal District Attorney's Office; report it to the Sheriff's Office at 512-393-7896 (hayscountytx.gov, checked 2026-11-07). |
| San Marcos | Leaving fee-waived items (TVs, monitors, appliances, tires, mattresses) at the Green Guy drop-off outside business hours is considered illegal dumping, per the City of San Marcos (sanmarcostx.gov, checked 2026-11-07). |
Travis County
| Where | What the city or county says |
|---|---|
| Austin | Illegal dumping in Austin can be reported to Austin 3-1-1 (or the 3-1-1 app) or the Regional Environmental Taskforce hotline 1-877-NO-DUMPS (1-877-663-8677); offenses can be a Class A, B or C misdemeanor or a state jail felony depending on waste amount and type, and offenders may be required to clean up the site, pay a fine and face jail (austintexas.gov, checked 2026-11-07). |
| Sunset Valley | Illegal dumping in Sunset Valley can be reported to Public Works at (512) 891-9103; Storage Yard dumping violations bring a warning, then a 30-day access suspension, then a one-year suspension, and illegal dumping may lead to criminal prosecution (sunsetvalley.org, checked 2026-11-07). |
Sources (checked Nov 2026): Bastrop County · comalcounty.gov · guadalupetx.gov · budatx.gov · hayscountytx.gov · sanmarcostx.gov · austintexas.gov · sunsetvalley.org.
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