Important notice
If you have been issued with a fixed penalty notice (FPN) for dropping litter, waste etc, then you have 14 days from the date of issue to pay the fine. If you don’t pay within 28 days, the case will go to court, where you could receive a fine of up to £2,500 plus costs.
A Fixed Penalty Notice commonly known as a FPN is a financial penalty that the Council can charge for things like flytipping, littering and breaches of household waste duty of care. This allows us to issue these as an alternative to prosecution.
How to pay?
Online
To pay by debit card via the internet, hit the 'Pay your FPN online' button, choose ’other payments’ ‘environment and waste’ then select the right fine type for online payments.
By phone
You can pay at any time by calling our customer services line on 08085 834333 and selecting Option 4 for all other enquiries,
In person
You can pay by card, cash or cheque at our Customer Services Centre, Main Floor, Coventry Central Library, Smithford Way, Coventry CV1 1FY.
Opening hours
Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm (excluding Bank Holidays). You will need your Fixed Penalty Notice paper and the name and address of the offender.
By post
Cheques and postal orders should be made payable to Coventry City Council. Please write your Fixed Penalty Notice number and the name and address of the offender who was issued on the back. The Fixed penalty notice number can be found in the top right corner of the notice you received from us and will be a 6-digit reference number.
Customer Services
Open 9amâ5pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays). If you do need to call us, please try to avoid our busiest times of lunchtime and early afternoon. Many queries relating to Council Tax, benefits or bin and bulky waste collections can be dealt with directly by logging into My Account.
Your questions answered
What types of FPN are there?
FPNs are used to address minor environmental offences such as fly-tipping, littering, or breaches of household waste duty of care.
| Offence | Legal act | Full amount of penalty | Amount if paid within 14 days | Maximum penalty on conviction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depositing litter | Section 87/88 - Environmental Protection Act 1990 | £500 | £150 | £2500 |
| Fly-tipping | Section 33 (1) (c) - Environmental Protection Act 1990 | £1000 | £500 | £unlimited/prison |
| Failure to comply with litter clearing notice | Section 92C/94A - Environmental Protection Act 1990 | £100 | £60 | £2500 |
| Failure to comply to produce waste documents | Section 34 (5) and regulations made under it / 34 (6)/34A - Environmental Protection Act 1990 | £300 | £180 | £5,000 (or, on indictment, an unlimited fine) |
| Failure to produce authority to transport waste | Section 5/5B – Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 | £300 | £180 | £5000 |
| Unauthorised distribution of free printed matter | Schedule 3A para. 1 (1) and 7 – Environmental Protection Act 1990 | £75 | £50 | £2500 |
| Household waste duty of care | Section 34(2A) - Environmental Protection Act 1990 | £600 | £300 | £unlimited/prison |
| Failure to comply with a waste receptacles notice | Section 46/47/47ZA/47ZB - Environmental Protection Act 1990 | £100 | £60 | £1000 |
| Flyposting | Section 43 Anti-social behaviour Act 2003 Section 222 (3) Town & Country Planning Act 1990, Section 132 (1) Highways Act 1980 | £80 | £50 | £2500 |
| Leaving vehicles for sale on highway | Section 3 (1)(a) & 5(1) Clean Neighbourhood & Environment Act 2005 | £100 | £60 | £2500 |
| Unauthorised abandonment of vehicle | Section 2-5 Refuse Disposal (amenity) act 1978, Section 2(1)(a) Clean Neighbourhood & Environment Act 2005 | £200 | £120 | £2500 |
| Repairing vehicles on highway | Section 4 - Clean Neighbourhood & Environment Act 2005 | £100 | £60 | £2500 |
| Failure to remove dog faeces | Section 5 - Clean Neighbourhood & Environment Act 2005 | £75 | £50 | £1000 |
| Failure to comply with Community Protection Notice | Section 43 - Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 | £100 | £75 | £2500 |
How does an FPN work?
Instead of taking someone to court, an authorised officer can issue an FPN, offering the individual the option to pay a fixed sum to settle the matter.
Will I still be in trouble after I pay the FPN?
If the penalty is paid by the deadline, the matter is closed, and no further action is taken.
What happens if I don’t pay?
If the FPN is not paid, the case may be referred to the courts for prosecution.
Can I challenge the FPN?
There isn't a formal right to appeal an FPN, but you can make representations to the issuing authority if you believe the notice was issued in error.
Does the FPN count as a criminal offence?
An FPN is not a criminal conviction and will not appear on a standard criminal record check.
Customer Services
Open 9amâ5pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays). If you do need to call us, please try to avoid our busiest times of lunchtime and early afternoon. Many queries relating to Council Tax, benefits or bin and bulky waste collections can be dealt with directly by logging into My Account.