Dumpster Permit Guide: Rules in 50 States and 30 Cities

Dumpster permit rules and fees depend on your city more than your state. The city sets the fee, usually as an application fee plus a daily, weekly or monthly rate, and some towns charge nothing. You generally need a permit when any part of the box sits on a street, sidewalk, curb lane or public alley, and you almost never need one on your own driveway. Below you'll find who issues the permit in all 50 states, the office to look for in 30 large cities, and the mistakes that get boxes ticketed.

How to use this guide

Start with the state table, which shows which level of government usually looks after the street in front of your house, since that's who issues the permit. The city table names the office in 30 large cities. Then search your city's name plus "right-of-way permit" to find the application page, which lists the current fee, the maximum days and the conditions. We don't print per-city fees because cities change them often.

If you're not sure you need a permit at all, the 60-second permit test answers it in three questions.

Why permits are set by the city, not the state

A dumpster permit is permission to use part of the public right of way, so it comes from whichever government maintains that road. On most residential streets that's the city or town. Outside city limits it is usually the county (the parish in Louisiana, the borough in Alaska). On a numbered state route, even where it runs through a downtown, the state transportation department often issues it, and it may be called an encroachment, occupancy or land use permit.

The fee, the maximum number of days, the reflector and cone rules and the application form are all set locally. That's why two neighboring cities can charge very different amounts for the same box, and why dumpster rental rules vary more from city to city than from state to state.

State-by-state table: who issues a dumpster permit

In the table, "county" means outside city limits, and the state agency in each row issues permits on numbered state roads. A box placed entirely on private property rarely needs a right-of-way permit anywhere.

In New England the town usually issues the permit. In North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Delaware the state transportation department maintains most roads outside towns, so that's often where you apply if you live outside town limits.

30 major cities: which office and what the rule is

Use the office and permit name as your search terms. Most of these cities take applications online and list the fee, maximum days and sign or reflector rules on the application page. In a few, only the dumpster company or a licensed contractor can apply. A box fully on your own driveway generally needs no right-of-way permit, though Philadelphia and Boston also license some dumpsters on private property. Each city links to its page in our service area.

Departments get renamed. If an office above has a new name, search for the permit type instead (right-of-way, street use, occupancy, public space or dumpster permit).

How fees and durations work across the country

Smaller towns sometimes charge nothing. Big cities usually charge an application fee plus a daily, weekly or monthly rate, which adds up over a long placement, and some also want a bond or proof of insurance. Permits run from a few days to a few months. New York's household container permit covers 5 days, and Minneapolis issues 30, 60 or 90-day permits. The permit clock runs separately from the rental clock, so a 14-day rental on a 7-day permit needs a renewal. Lead times vary just as much. Boston asks for seven business days, San Francisco ten for a street space permit, and Pittsburgh suggests three to four weeks, so apply before you set the delivery date.

Permit mistakes that get boxes towed

• Half on the driveway, half on the sidewalk. The sidewalk half still counts as public placement. A 10-yard (12 feet long) or 15-yard (16 feet) often fits fully on a driveway where a 20-yard won't.
• The right permit from the wrong government. A city permit doesn't cover a state route or a street the county maintains, so check the state table before you apply.
• Assuming a quiet street means no rule. Enforcement is often complaint-driven, and one neighbor's call can bring a citation, an order to move the box and the cost of an extra truck trip.
• No reflectors or lights. Many permits require reflective markings on the box (New York wants them on all four sides), and some cities, such as Columbus and Milwaukee, add lighted barrels or a flashing barricade. Leaving them off can get the box cited even with a permit.
• Treating an HOA approval as a permit, or the reverse. You may need both. A city permit covers public streets, and HOA rules govern private streets and shared areas inside the association.

Our dumpster on the street guide covers cones, lights, clearances and what to do if a car is parked in the spot.

How we handle permits at quote time

Tell us where the box will sit and we'll tell you whether your city usually requires a permit for that spot, which office issues it and who files it. In some cities, including New York, Chicago and Minneapolis, only the dumpster company or a licensed contractor can hold the permit. Wherever you are, we can get the street permit for you, with the city's fee added to your invoice, or you can apply yourself where the city allows it. Your quote lists the permit among the charges that could apply. A quote is held for 14 days for the ZIP code, size and dates it names, so in a city with a long lead time, start the permit early.

Frequently asked questions

What affects the price of a dumpster permit?

That's set by whoever maintains the street. It's free in some towns, and in big cities it's usually an application fee plus a daily, weekly or monthly rate, so a longer placement costs more. The application page lists the current amount.

Where do I apply for a street dumpster permit?

You apply to the government that maintains the street: usually the city's public works, transportation or right-of-way office, the county outside city limits, or the state transportation department on a state route.

What does a dumpster permit application ask for?

Most applications ask for the address, the exact spot (often a sketch or photo), the container's size, the dates, and often the dumpster company's name and proof of insurance.

Do I need a right of way permit for a dumpster on my own driveway?

In nearly every US city, no, because the permit covers public space. HOAs and landlords may want their own approval, and Philadelphia and Boston also license some dumpsters on private property.

Tell us where the box will sit and we'll tell you what applies at your address. We can get the street permit for you, with the city's fee added to your invoice. Get my price.