Oakland mayor, councilmember to propose new rules, higher fines for illegal dumping

by Kiley Russell, Bay City News March 18, 2026March 16, 2026

FILE: Illegally dumped trash blocks a driveway in Oakland in an undated image. The city is preparing a new ordinance that would increase fines and other penalties for those caught illegally disposing trash on city streets. (Image via westcoastjunk.com)

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee and City Councilmember Zac Unger will introduce a new ordinance next week to increase the penalties for illegal dumping.

If approved, the new rules would more than double the fines for dumping trash on Oakland streets, parks, sidewalks and other spaces to $1,500 for the first offense, $2,500 for the second and $5,000 for the third.

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Kiley Russell, Bay City News

Kiley Russell writes primarily for Local News Matters on issues related to equity and the environment. A Bay Area native, he has lived most of his life in Oakland. He studied journalism at San Francisco State University, worked for the Associated Press and the former Contra Costa Times, among other outlets. He has covered everything from state legislatures, local governments, federal and state courts, crime, growth and development, political campaigns of various stripes, wildfires and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

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