California legal term
litter in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “litter” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the California criminal code.
What does “litter” mean in California criminal law?
“litter” means the discarding, dropping, or scattering of small quantities of waste matter ordinarily carried on or about the person, including, but not limited to, beverage containers and closures, packaging, wrappers, wastepaper, newspapers, and magazines, in a place other than a place or container for the proper disposal thereof, and including waste matter that escapes or is allowed to escape from a container, receptacle, or package. (Cal. Penal Code § 374.4)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.