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Sec. 32-4. Abandoned shopping carts
The superintendent of the department of public works and any person duly authorized by him or designated by the mayor are hereby authorized to impound any shopping carts or similar device, commonly used by markets, stores and other businesses, which appear to be abandoned on any public or private property, and to notify the owner of such shopping cart or device to reclaim the same within one (1) week of such notification; notice may be by telephone, United States mail, or personal contact. A fee of five dollars ($5.00) per cart shall be paid to the city when the shopping cart or device is reclaimed. Any shopping cart or device that has not been reclaimed within the time specified shall be disposed of as rubbish.
(Code 1956, § 13-3.1)

About Shopping Cart Ordinances

Retailers can struggle to stop cart abandonment, often paying up to $15,000 a year on replacement carts and municipal fines and fees due imposed by communities. These cart regulations and laws are put in place to not only control the environmental impact of abandoned carts, but also to keep towns and cities clean.

Most shopping cart ordinances fall into three categories: The first category is regulations requiring retailers to have a plan to contain and collect errant shopping carts. Secondly, those that define the fines and penalties a city may impose on retailers for abandoned or errant shopping carts. Finally, the third category of rules generally requires retailers to have a system to contain shopping carts, preventing abandonment.