Dumpster Diving in Florida: A Comprehensive Guide

If you want to start your dumpster diving adventure in Florida and are not sure about the legalities and strategies for a successful quest, you’ve come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, I will try to answer some of the frequently asked questions on the dumpster diving side hustle in the state of Florida.

Dumpster Diving in Florida

The Evergreen State offers a whopping 301 shopping malls with 21156 stores operating inside these malls.

Moreover, Furthermore, rich neighborhoods like Fisher Island, Manalapan, Golden Beach, Boca Grande, and Sewall’s Point are considered a paradise for dumpster divers in Florida. 

Additionally, Florida also offers tonnes of construction sites at its disposal. Since people are moving to Florida in big numbers, the residential construction projects are increasing every day. Construction sites are great places to dumpster dive in Florida as you can find expensive items with little to no hard work.

Therefore, whether you want to go dumpster diving in these rich neighborhoods, construction sites, shopping malls, or retail stores, Florida offers a surplus of everything.

Related: Dumpster Diving in Kentucky: A Comprehensive Guide

Is Dumpster Diving Illegal in Florida

In Florida, dumpster diving is not illegal. Dumpster diving is, in fact, perfectly legal in the state of Florida. However, you must keep an eye on your state’s trespassing rules. Dumpster diving without authorization may result in trespassing citations because every company and private residence is considered private property.

There are no regulations prohibiting you from diving into dumpsters that have been placed on public locations such as curbs for pickup. According to the landmark 1988 United States Supreme Court case California versus Greenwood, an individual or a business has effectively abandoned their ownership rights to items left in dumpsters in public locations across the country.

If you try to rummage through a dumpster that is still within a private residence in Florida, you may be charged with trespass or possible theft. If the ‘No Trespassing’ sign is clearly visible and you still stepped inside the private property to try dumpster diving, you may be charged with trespassing, and the business in FL has every right to ban you from their location for life. You could even face charges of unruly behavior, illegal dumping, or littering.

As a result, if you need to unlock a fence, a gate, or go inside a private property in FL, you might want to reconsider dumpster diving there. Those aren’t the best trash diving spots in Florida, especially if you don’t have all of the appropriate permits.

Is Dumpster Diving at night illegal in Florida?

In Florida, dumpster diving at night is not illegal. In reality, whether dumpster diving is done during the day or at night, the rules are the same. Going dumpster diving at night in residential premises, on the other hand, appears to be quite dangerous. There’s a good probability a cop will be called on you. 

Furthermore, trash diving at night in Florida attracts a lot more competitors. Most dumpster divers like to go dumpster diving at night because they want some privacy. Early in the morning or shortly after sunrise, in my opinion, is the finest time to go dumpster diving in Florida.

Best places to go dumpster diving in Florida

In Florida, there are plenty of fantastic sites to go dumpster diving. However, I’ve put together a list of the top 5 spots in Florida where you may begin your dumpster diving adventure and actually make money.

  1. Rich Communities
  2. Garage sales and yard sales are both popular options.
  3. Retail stores
  4. Beach
  5. Cosmetic stores
Related: Dumpster Diving at Walmart: Legal or Illegal?

How much money can you make dumpster diving in Florida?

The amount of money you can make dumpster diving in Florida is determined by a number of variables. Some people go dumpster diving purely for recyclable stuff, which they then sell and profit from. Others may desire to start trash diving in order to find food or groceries for their own usage. In addition, many dumpster divers hunt for valuable items such as electronics, furniture, or books to sell on eBay or Facebook Marketplace in order to make money.

It will be difficult to establish a full-time living from dumpster diving in Florida. I’m not implying that it’s impossible. Thousands of people make over $3000 each month as a result of their garbage diving side hustle. It’s proof that it’s doable, but you’ll need to put in full-time effort and dedication if you want to make a full-time living through dumpster diving in Florida.

So how much money can you make by dumpster diving in Florida? Well! We surveyed 15 full-time dumpster divers from Florida and on average, if you commit full-time hours(40+hrs per week) for dumpster diving, you can make up to $2800 in Florida.

Final Thoughts

Overall, dumpster diving is not illegal in Florida. However, you may be prohibited from dumpster diving in FL due to local or county restrictions. As a result, make sure to check each community’s city code, which may usually be accessible online. Also, make sure you observe Florida’s trespassing legislation, local municipal ordinances, and common-sense guidelines.

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