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DENTON – The Caroline County Commissioners passed one bill June 9, 2026 to address residents’ concerns about rubbish accumulation, and advanced draft legislation allowing them to declare a burning ban during drought-related conditions. Both bills were introduced April 14.
The rubbish bill creates a new Chapter 138 of the County Code titled “Property Maintenance – Rubbish and Garbage.” The ordinance, which goes into effect July 25, prohibits “the accumulation of rubbish and garbage on exterior property and premises” and authorizes the Department of Planning and Codes to investigate complaints.
The department also has the authority to levy fines: the civil penalty is $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for a second or subsequent offense.
“The intent of this ordinance is not to regulate how people use their property, but to provide the County with a reasonable enforcement tool to address excessive accumulations of rubbish and garbage that create legitimate public health and nuisance concerns for neighboring properties,” Planning and Codes Director Crystal Dadds stated in a July 1 email.
“I think this is a good baby step into responsible governance and protection of neighbors, with minimal impact on everyone who is trying to do the right thing here,” Commission President Travis Breeding said during the June 9 meeting. “This will definitely target those people who are creating a nuisance and creating a major issue around the county.”
According to the text of the chapter, its purpose is “to protect public health, safety and general welfare by preventing unsanitary conditions, infestation, fire hazards and blighting influences caused by the accumulation of rubbish and garbage” not stored in approved, leakproof, covered containers.
During the past two years, the department has received about 80 complaints “involving junk, trash, debris, or unregistered vehicles,” Dadds said. “Because the Department is complaint-driven, we do not maintain a list of every property that may have similar conditions. Complaints generally arise where neighboring property owners are directly affected.”
“The issues vary considerably but commonly involve excessive accumulations of household trash, discarded materials, multiple inoperable or unregistered vehicles, recreational vehicles, construction debris, and similar items stored outdoors for extended periods,” Dadds said. The department doesn’t patrol neighborhoods looking for violations, she added.
“Many of these complaints occur in subdivisions, villages, or other areas where homes are in closer proximity to one another, although complaints are received throughout the County,” she said.
Complaints include concerns about declining property values, rodents and stray animals, odors, and the potential for fluids leaking from abandoned vehicles to impact nearby ditches, streams or groundwater. “Without an enforceable ordinance, the County has had very limited ability to address complaints involving excessive accumulations of trash, debris, abandoned materials, and similar conditions,” Dadds said.
“The County was not looking to create a comprehensive property maintenance code,” Dadds said. “Instead, the Commissioners chose a measured approach by adopting a narrowly focused ordinance that addresses a recurring public health and nuisance issue while respecting the rural and agricultural character of Caroline County.”
“For many years, the County Commissioners have discussed the need for some type of property maintenance regulations but also recognized that a traditional urban-style property maintenance code would not be appropriate,” she said. “The ordinance was intentionally written to balance public health concerns with respect for private property rights and normal agricultural operations. It specifically recognizes the County's rural character and exempts agricultural materials, implements, equipment, and machinery associated with agricultural business activities.”
Violations of the Property Maintenance – Rubbish and Garbage ordinance are enforced as a Class A Civil Infraction under Chapter 92 of the Caroline County Code. Each day a violation continues after the expiration of the compliance period “shall constitute a separate offense.” However, the County’s goal is to achieve voluntary compliance rather than issue citations.
Before any citation is issued, property owners will receive written notice of the violation and be given 10 calendar days to correct the violation. If the violation presents an immediate health or safety concern, or if it is a repeat violation, shorter compliance periods may apply.
“The ordinance was intentionally structured to provide property owners with an opportunity to correct violations before enforcement action is taken,” Dadds said. “Citations are intended to be used when violations remain uncorrected after notice has been provided.”
Also on June 9, the Commissioners reviewed and advanced draft legislation that would add a new Chapter 124 to the County Code, allowing the Commissioners to declare an open-air burning ban during drought conditions, as well as provide for “a right of entry to extinguish a fire started in violation of an open-burning ban.” Introduced April 14, a public hearing was held April 21.
Under the bill’s provisions, the Commissioners also would authorize the Caroline County Director of Emergency Services to notify the public of an open-air burning ban.
Breeding stressed the need to clarify the limits of the ordinance. “Again, just to reiterate so there's no confusion (for) anyone who covers this, please emphasize that this is a burn ban during conditions of severe drought.”
In a July 7 interview Commission Vice President Larry Porter said, “I know there was some (social media) comments about (our) wanting to control everything. It's certainly not to keep anybody from burning in barrels. I mean, heck, my grandparents did that for years.”
After a 3-stage advertisement period, the third reading of the legislation is set for July 21 with the potential to amend or enact at that time. The legislation would potentially be effective Sept. 5, 2026.
To read the entire text of both bills, please click on the links in the July 9 County Commissioners meeting agenda: https://carolinecountymd.new.swagit.com/videos/390416
