A.R.S. § 13-1603: Criminal Littering Penalties
Criminal littering or polluting; classification
What is the penalty for littering in Arizona?
In Arizona, criminal littering or polluting — dumping litter, harmful substances, or earth materials onto public or private property or into state waters without authority — is at least a class 2 misdemeanor, rising to a class 6 felony for a knowing violation involving more than three hundred pounds or one hundred cubic feet, or any amount dumped for a commercial purpose. At least fifty per cent of any fine collected must go toward the county's illegal-dumping cleanup.
Full statute text
Official text last checked against azleg.gov:
13-1603. Criminal littering or polluting; classification
A. A person commits criminal littering or polluting if the person without lawful authority does any of the following:
1. Throws, places, drops or permits to be dropped on public property or property of another that is not a lawful dump any litter, destructive or injurious material that the person does not immediately remove.
2. Discharges or permits to be discharged any sewage, oil products or other harmful substances into any waters or onto any shorelines within this state.
3. Dumps any earth, soil, stones, ores or minerals on any land.
B. Criminal littering or polluting is punishable as follows:
1. A class 6 felony if the act is a knowing violation of subsection A in which the amount of litter or other prohibited material or substance exceeds three hundred pounds in weight or one hundred cubic feet in volume or is done in any quantity for a commercial purpose.
2. A class 1 misdemeanor if the act is a knowing violation of subsection A, paragraph 1 in which the amount of litter or prohibited material or substance is more than one hundred pounds in weight but less than three hundred pounds in weight or more than thirty-five cubic feet in volume but less than one hundred cubic feet in volume and is not done for a commercial purpose.
3. A class 1 misdemeanor if the act is not punishable under paragraph 1 of this subsection and involves placing any destructive or injurious material on or within fifty feet of a highway, beach or shoreline of any body of water used by the public.
4. A class 2 misdemeanor if the act is not punishable under paragraph 1, 2 or 3 of this subsection.
C. If a fine is assessed for a violation of subsection A, paragraph 1 or 2, one hundred per cent of any assessed fine shall be deposited in the general fund of the county in which the fine was assessed. At least fifty per cent of the fine shall be used by the county for the purposes of illegal dumping cleanup.
AI-drafted summary, not attorney-reviewed. Statute text verified against azleg.gov. Legal information, not legal advice — consult a licensed attorney for your situation.