Littering
RCW 70A.200.060 — a civil infraction up to a cubic foot, then crimes, plus four times the cleanup
No one may throw, drop, deposit, discard or otherwise dispose of litter on public property, on private property they do not own, or in the state's waters, from a vehicle or otherwise, except where a place is designated for it or into a receptacle that keeps the weather from carrying it off. Abandoning a junk vehicle is covered too.
Who handles this in Washington: King County Bar Association, Lawyer Referral Service; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Washington directory.
| How much | What it is |
|---|---|
| How muchOne cubic foot or less | What it isClass 2 civil infraction |
| How muchMore than one cubic foot, less than 10 cubic yards | What it isMisdemeanor, or a natural resource infraction |
| How muchMore than 10 cubic yards | What it isGross misdemeanor |
| How muchPotentially dangerous litter, any amount | What it isClass 1 civil infraction |
Four times the cleanup. On top of the penalty, a person found liable pays litter cleanup restitution of four times the actual cost of cleanup for an infraction or misdemeanor, and two times for a gross misdemeanor. The court may order litter pickup instead, and may suspend the payment for a first offender who cleans up. In a participating state park, the court also orders 24 hours of community restitution there.
Littering from a vehicle can also be a traffic violation under the vehicle code. Whether a particular ticket fits is a question for a licensed Washington attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- RCW 70A.200.060 — Littering prohibited, penalties and cleanup restitution
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Washington attorney.