# Division 4. Required Removal of Snow, Ice, Weeds, Litter, and Debris from Sidewalks and Debris from Roadways

Codified through Bill No. CB-018-2026, adopted May 12, 2026, effective July 24, 2026. Source: Municode, Supplement 2026 Update 2. Editorial notes and legislative history omitted.

## Division 4. Required Removal of Snow, Ice, Weeds, Litter, and Debris from Sidewalks and Debris from Roadways

### Sec. 23-150. Duty to remove snow, ice, weeds, litter, and debris

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 23-150 (2026)

(a) For the purposes of this Section only, "commercial property" shall mean any property that is used to conduct a trade or business that provides goods or services to the public. It shall also include properties that are zoned industrial or commercial (or, collectively, nonresidential), residential, rural and agricultural, Transit-Oriented/Activity Center, or planned development under the provisions of Subtitle 27 of this Code that are used to provide goods or services to the public.

(b) It shall be the duty of the owner or lessor, as the case may be, of a residential dwelling unit or commercial property, unless such duty has been delegated to a lessee in actual possession, to remove snow and ice from any sidewalk abutting the subject property within forty-eight (48) hours after snow has fallen or ice has formed as a result of inclement weather or runoff from abutting surfaces.

(c) It shall be the duty of the owner or lessor, as the case may be, of a residential dwelling unit or commercial property, unless such duty has been delegated to a lessee in actual possession, to remove litter and debris from the property line of that building, lot, or land to the edge of the concrete curb and gutter adjoining the roadway in the case of an urban (closed) section roadway, and from the private property line to the edge of the paved roadway surface in the case of a rural (open) section roadway.

(d) It shall be the duty of the owner or lessor, as the case may be, of a residential dwelling unit or commercial property, unless such duty has been delegated to a lessee in actual possession, to keep all weeds, as defined in Section 23-102 of this Subtitle, located in the public space set forth in Subsection (c) of this Section, cut to a height of not over six (6) inches.

(e) The Police Department or other appropriate County enforcement agency shall be responsible for enforcing the provisions of this Section.

(f) Any person primarily responsible for the removal of snow, ice, weeds, or debris who breaches said duty shall be subject to a civil fine not to exceed One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for each separate offense. Any person primarily responsible for the removal of litter who breaches said duty shall be subject to a civil fine of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for each separate offense.

(g) This Section shall not apply to materials left within the public right-of-way as a result of a lawfully executed eviction action, from a single family rental facility as defined in Section 13-138 of the Code or for bulky trash left in the right-of-way as a result of illegal dumping by others.

### Sec. 23-151. Duty to prevent deposit of sediment or other materials in road right-of-way

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 23-151 (2026)

(a) It shall be the duty of the owner or lessor of any real property, improved or unimproved, unless such duty has been delegated to a lessee in actual possession, as the case may be, to prevent the deposit of dirt, sediment, debris, gravel, oil, litter, or any other matter, including portable storage containers in a road right-of-way, or in any drain or ditch designed to carry surface water from a road right-of-way, whether improved or not. For the purpose of this Section, the deposit of oil shall include the drainage or leakage of oil, transmission fluid, antifreeze, and similar substances from a vehicle or machine in addition to the discharge or dumping of such substances by any other means. The prevention of the deposit of silt in the road right-of-way shall not apply where a temporary approved sediment trapping device has been constructed in the right-of-way as part of an ongoing development construction project. It shall also be the responsibility of said person to prevent the formation of algae on sidewalks located within the right-of-way.

(b) Any person primarily responsible for the said duty will be required to correct any cited condition within the date of written notice by the Department or immediately if the condition cited is determined hazardous. Noncompliance on the part of the responsible person within the required time will result in correction or removal of the cited condition by the County, and all costs therefor shall be billed to the responsible person. Failure to pay any cost incurred by the County within thirty (30) days of the billing date shall result in a tax lien being placed against the affected property in accordance with the provisions of this Subtitle.

(c) Any person primarily responsible for the deposition of dirt, sediment, debris, gravel, oil, litter, or other foreign matter, including portable storage containers into a public right-of-way shall be subject to a civil fine not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for each separate offense. The procedures of Subdivision 1, Division 3, Subtitle 28 of this Code shall apply. In addition, any person responsible for a violation of this Section may also be subject to the following criminal penalties:

  (1) A person who dumps litter in violation of this Section in an amount not exceeding 100 pounds in weight or 27 cubic feet in volume and not for commercial purposes is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment for not more than thirty (30) days, or both;

  (2) A person who dumps litter in violation of this Section in an amount exceeding 100 pounds in weight or 27 cubic feet in volume, but not exceeding 500 pounds in weight or 216 cubic feet in volume, and not for commercial purposes is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) or imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, or both;

  (3) A person who dumps litter in violation of this Section in an amount exceeding 500 pounds in weight or 216 cubic feet in volume or in any quantity for commercial purposes is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not more than Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) or imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or both.

(d) In addition to the sentences provided by this Section, a court may order the violator to:

  (1) Remove or render harmless the litter dumped in violation of this Section;

  (2) Repair or restore property damaged by, or pay damages for, any damage arising out of dumping the litter in violation of this Section;

  (3) Perform public service relating to the removal of litter dumped in violation of this Section or to the restoration of an area polluted by litter dumped in violation of this Section; or

  (4) Reimburse the State, County, municipal corporation, or bicounty agency for any costs incurred by the State, County, municipal corporation, or bicounty agency in the removal of litter dumped in violation of this Section.

(e) The placement of personal property in the right-of-way as the result of an eviction from a single family rental facility as defined in Section 13-138 of the Code, shall not be subject to the prohibitions of this Section.

### Sec. 23-152. Illegal Dumping

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 23-152 (2026)

(a) Scope. This Section applies to a violation of the State illegal dumping and litter control law or local law or ordinance relating to the unlawful disposal of litter that occurs at a dumping site monitored by a surveillance system.

(b) Definitions. In this section the following words have the meanings indicated:

  (1) "Department" means the Department of the Environment (DOE), or any other agency designated by the County Executive or their designee.

  (2) "Dumping site" means a location within Prince George's County that is:

    (A) owned by the County or the State; and

    (B) identified by the Department as property that has been repeatedly used for the disposal of litter in violation of State law or local law or ordinance.

  (3) "Owner" means the registered owner of a motor vehicle or a lessee of a motor vehicle under a lease of six (6) months or more.

    (A) "Owner" does not include:

      (i) a motor vehicle rental or leasing company; or

      (ii) a holder of a special registration plate issued under Title 13, Subtitle 9, Part III of the Maryland Transportation Article.

  (4) "Surveillance image" means an image recorded by a surveillance system.

    (A) An image shall be recorded on:

      (i) A photograph;

      (ii) A micrograph;

      (iii) An electronic image;

      (iv) Videotape; or

      (v) Any other medium.

    (B) A surveillance image must show the front or rear of a motor vehicle, on at least one (1) image or portion of the tape, clearly identifying the registration plate number of the motor vehicle.

    (C) A surveillance image must show an individual committing a violation of the State illegal dumping and litter control law or a local law or ordinance relating to the unlawful disposal of litter.

  (5) "Surveillance system" means a collection of one (1) or more cameras located at a dumping site that produces a surveillance image.

(c) Surveillance systems. The Department may:

  (1) Place surveillance systems at dumping sites; and

  (2) Use surveillance images to enforce the provisions of the State illegal dumping and litter control law or a local law or ordinance relating to the unlawful disposal of litter.

(d) Citation.

  (1) The District Court, in consultation with the Department, shall prescribe:

    (A) a uniform citation forms consistent with Section 23-151 of this code and 7-302 of the Courts Article of the Maryland Annotated Code; and

    (B) a civil penalty, which shall be indicated on the citation to be paid by persons who choose to prepay the civil penalty without appearing in District Court.

  (2) A citation shall include:

    (A) the name and address of the registered owner of the vehicle;

    (B) the registration number of the motor vehicle involved in the violation;

    (C) the violation charged;

    (D) the location where the violation occurred;

    (E) the date and time of the violation;

    (F) a copy of the surveillance image;

    (G) the amount of the civil penalty imposed and the date by which the civil penalty must be paid;

    (H) a signed statement by a duly authorized agent of the Department that, based on inspection of surveillance images, the motor vehicle was being used by an individual who was committing a violation;

    (I) a statement that surveillance images are evidence of a violation;

    (J) information advising of the manner and time the citation may be contested in the District Court; and

    (K) information advising that failure to pay the civil penalty or to contest liability in a timely manner:

      (i) is an admission of liability;

      (ii) may result in the refusal by the Motor Vehicle Administration to register the motor vehicle; and

      (iii) may result in the suspension of the motor vehicle registration.

  (3) The Department shall send the owner, via mail, a citation or a warning notice no later than two (2) weeks after the alleged violation.

  (4) A person who receives a citation under this subsection may:

    (i) Pay the civil penalty, in accordance with the instructions on the citation, directly to the Department; or

    (ii) Elect to stand trial in the District Court for the alleged violation.

(e) Certificate. A certificate alleging that a violation occurred, sworn to or affirmed by a duly authorized agent of the Department, based on the inspection of surveillance images produced by a surveillance system, shall be admissible as evidence in a proceeding alleging a violation.

(f) Contesting a Citation.

  (1) An adjudication of liability shall be based on a preponderance of the evidence.

  (2) The District Court may consider the following in defense of a violation:

    (A) The motor vehicle was stolen before the violation occurred and was not under the control or possession of the owner at the time of the violation;

      (i) the owner shall submit proof that a police report regarding the stolen motor vehicle or registration plates was filed prior to the alleged incident.

    (B) Evidence that the person named in the citation was not the person in the surveillance image committing the violation of the state illegal dumping and litter control law or a local law or ordinance relating to the unlawful disposal of litter;

      (i) the owner shall provide the District Court with evidence to the satisfaction of the court of the identity of the person in the surveillance image who was committing the violation, including, at a minimum, the person's name and current address.

    (C) any other issues and evidence that the District Court deems pertinent.

  (3) If the District Court finds that the owner did not commit the violation, the Clerk of the Court shall provide the Department with a copy of any substantial evidence.

  (4) Upon receipt of any substantiating evidence, the Department may issue a citation to the person that the evidence indicates committed the violation and shall be mailed no later than two (2) weeks after the receipt of the evidence.

(g) Penalties.

  (1) The owner is subject to a civil penalty if the violation and the motor vehicle used to commit the violation are recorded on a surveillance image by a surveillance system while the individual is committing a violation.

  (2) A civil penalty under this section may not exceed $1,000.

  (3) If the person named in the citation does not pay the civil penalty and does not contest the violation, then the following may occur as a result:

    (A) the Motor Vehicle Administration may not register or transfer registration of the vehicle cited in the violation pursuant to Md. Transportation Code Ann. §26-305(a);

    (B) the Motor Vehicle Administration may suspend the registration of the motor vehicle cited in the violation pursuant to Md. Transportation Code Ann. §26-305(b);

    (C) The Department may immobilize the vehicle with a parking boot if the person receives a third violation within six (6) months; or

    (D) The Department may impound your vehicle without additional notice if the person receives a fifth violation within twelve (12) months.

### Sec. 23-153 through 23-155. Reserved

Prince George's County, Md., Code §§ 23-153–23-155 (2026)