Citations
Action Required: If you received this letter, a fine is being issued. Review your letter to determine the violation(s) received. You must resolve your violation and submit proof/documentation by the due date listed on your citation letter to avoid additional fines.
NOTE: Fine amounts increase to up to $500 per violation and will continue every 60 days for continued noncompliance. See this table for details about the violations and potential citation amounts.
Step 1: Pay the fine amount listed on your citation letter.
- Online (debit/credit) at Citation Processing Center
- Select “Administrative Citations” and search by “Citation and Date,” then enter the citation number and date found at the top right of your letter.
- By check:
- Include citation number, and make check payable to:
StopWaste – Citation Processing Center
P.O. Box 7275
Newport Beach, CA 92658-7275
- Include citation number, and make check payable to:
Step 2: Take the necessary steps to address your violation.
Select your violation from the list below. If your letter lists multiple violations, you must resolve each violation and provide the necessary documentation to avoid a citation and fine. Contact us if you have questions about how to resolve your citation:
Composting and Recycling Service Violations:
- Failure to have compost and/or recycling collection service
- Unavailable collection containers or insufficient service
Edible Food Recovery Violations:
- Failure to have a written agreement with a Food Recovery Organization (FRO) or Food Recovery Service (FRS)
- Failure to have food donation records
- Failure to donate the maximum amount of edible food
Appealing a Citation
If you believe your citation was issued in error, you have the right to appeal within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of the citation. Note that you must submit payment of the Total Fine amount with your appeal letter in order to be granted a citation appeal hearing.
Appeals for sites in compliance prior to citation:
If a site was in compliance prior to the date of a citation, use the Submit Proof form to provide documentation, demonstrating when a site became compliant. Citations may be dismissed without the need for a formal appeal if the documentation proves that the required service, food recovery actions, or an approved waiver was in place prior to the date of the citation. Payment of the fine amount is not required in this case.
Appeals for other reasons:
You have the right to appeal the citation within 30 calendar days of the date on which you received the citation letter.
A formal appeal may be requested using the Request for Appeal of Administrative Citation Form. The completed form, along with any supporting documentation and the appeal fee, should be mailed to “StopWaste – Citation Processing Center” at P.O. Box 7275, Newport Beach, CA 92658-7275. At this time, an appeal cannot be submitted online.
If you choose to appeal the citation, you will be required to put on deposit the amount of the fine shown on your citation as a bond. You may include the Total Fine amount in a check made payable to “StopWaste – Citation Processing Center” with your Request for Appeal of Administrative Citation Form. Alternatively, you may pay by credit/debit card online at www.CitationProcessingCenter.com and then mail in your completed appeal form. Please see “Step 1” above for more detailed instructions for online payment of the fine.
If you win the appeal, the bond amount on deposit will be returned to you. If you lose the appeal, the bond amount on deposit will be forfeited and your fine paid. Once your appeal request is received, you will be sent a written notice of the date, time, and place of the hearing by certified mail. The notice will be sent at least 10 calendar days prior to the hearing date.
