Any good project begins with a solid strategy, and that includes finding out exactly what types of permits will be required by your local municipality. Planning for the right size dumpster is definitely part of the planning process, but will you need a permit to rent a dumpster and have it placed on or near your project site?
The answer will vary depending on where you live. While there is a clear and easy to understand guideline to follow for Chicago residents, it’s not so simple when you get out into surrounding communities that have their own governing bodies and sets of laws.
That’s why it’s important to do your research, because you don’t want a code violation to add delays and costs to your project.
Roll-off containers come in a variety of sizes, some of which might not fit on your property, or city code might not allow them to be on your property. That means they have to be placed on the street, sidewalk or in the alley near your property. Here’s where it gets tricky. The City of Chicago requires that if the dumpster is on a city street or alley, you must have a permit, because that is considered public property.
The city of Chicago offers two duration permits, one of which should fit most home improvement project schedules – three days. If you are certain your project is going to last longer, particularly if you are undertaking an extensive project, you can obtain a 30-day permit. The permits are valid from the first day they’re issued through the third calendar day or the 30th calendar day.
Fortunately for clients of A City Suburban Services, we take care of all of your permit needs. Once we talk about your project and what it will entail, including how long it will last, we will file for the three-day or 30-day permit, whichever best fits your needs. This is just one less thing you have to worry about, giving you the opportunity to put more thought into your home improvements.
The Chicago Department of Transportation has established an online permit portal, which is where you do a number of city-related things, including filling out the proper paperwork for a dumpster permit. This eliminates a time-consuming and costly trek to City Hall and gives you more time to tackle your project.
While there are several steps involved in filling out the forms, it’s really not difficult, and once you submit it, you can use the online tracker to see the status of your permit application in real time.
There are two components to the overall cost of dumpster-related permits in Chicago. First, there is the placement fee for having a dumpster on or near your property. Second, you will pay an application fee that covers the costs related to processing the permit.
Chicago dumpster placement fee
A three-day permit will cost $50. Unfortunately, if you suspect you’re going to need that dumpster on site for longer than three days, your only other option is to get a 30-day permit, which costs $100. However, if you’re located in the Central Business District of Chicago, which is located from the east of Halsted between Division Street to the north and Roosevelt Road to the south, you’ll pay twice the amount for your dumpster permit, which would take your three-day fee of $50 to $100 and your monthly fee of $100 to $200.
The City of Chicago requires that if the dumpster is on a city street, alley, curb lane, parkway or sidewalk, it must have a permit, and this is for a dumpster 30 cubic yards or less. Anything greater than that and the price doubles, respectively.
Should your dumpster be placed in front of a parking meter, the City of Chicago will assess a price for that as that costs the city revenue. Just notify the parking dispatcher of the meter’s number and they will submit that information to the appropriate party. Generally, the cost is between $25 and $75 per day, but that depends on the location.
Should you need to put your bin in the alley, be warned that it must be 10 feet from the nearest other dumpster, light pole, fence, tree or any other obstruction, including neighboring garages.
An application fee for processing the permit
In 2021, Chicago’s Department of Transportation added a new application fee for residential dumpster permits outside of the central business district. The fee is a one-time charge that covers the cost of processing the permit. But the processing fee you pay will depend on your unique situation. For example, the fee for residential dumpsters is different than the fee for a dumpster placed on an arterial street. There is also a different fee associated with dumpsters placed in the central business district. The application fee may be increased by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on an annual basis.
At the beginning of 2024, new fees were established that are based on the change to the CPI. Therefore, the dumpster application fee in Chicago has gone up to $21.51 for residential, $53.79 for arterial streets and $88.17 for the central business district.
How much is a permit for a dumpster rental in Chicago in 2024? Chicago residents will pay $71.51 for a three-day dumpster permit or $121.51 for a 30-day permit on residential streets. If you are on an arterial street, you will pay $103.79 (three-day) or $153.79 (30-day) on arterial streets. For those residing in the central business district, your permits will cost $188.17 or $288.17.
As with any large city in America, you need to know the requirements for ordering a roll off dumpster. Chicago isn’t any different in that requirements have been established for obtaining the necessary permits to place a roll off container on city property. However, in order to find out whether your city requires a permit for dumpster rental, you can always check with the appropriate office at your city hall.
A City Suburban Services, Inc. can take care of the permitting process for you if the dumpster is to be placed on city property (i.e. street, alley, etc.) in Chicago. If you live in a surrounding community that has rules and regulations that are completely separate from those established by the City of Chicago, you’ll need to check with your local government regarding what permits will be necessary for your dumpster rental.
With a little planning, asking the right questions and obtaining the correct permit, renting a temporary dumpster can be hassle free. Make your dumpster rental process easier while ordering online.
Here are a few simple steps related to the permits in the city of Chicago:
- The first step: While filling the order information, click “Yes” on the field “Do you need a city permit?”
- Next step: choose your permit duration: three or 30 days:
- The last step: Take a look at “Your order details” – the permit fee will be included into the total price:
A City Suburban Service Inc. always glad to assist you in getting a city permit for your rented dumpster in Chicago. When you rent a dumpster from us, we’ll help you determine the right size and make sure you know all about the permits required in your area, so contact us today and let’s start planning.
If you’re lucky, your dumpster vendor will be required to take care of all the permits related to your rental. However, in most cases, the onus falls on the person doing the renting.
If you have a rental permit question, call us or your local governing authority at city hall or your town’s equivalent. In some municipalities, it will be the planning and zoning department in charge of permits. In others, it might be the office of construction, public works, building department, or simply – the permit office.
The amount of time it takes your city to process a permit will vary, which is why you want to get on this part of the project early so you don’t miss out on this important piece of the puzzle. Apply at least a week in advance to make sure you aren’t deterred from staying on your schedule. Also, if you need to create a no parking zone for your dumpster, that can take time as well.
Another key piece of the puzzle is making sure your neighbors are okay with your dumpster. Check the bylaws if you’re part of a homeowners association to ensure you’re good.
Finally, check with your dumpster vendor to ensure they have the unit you need on the date you need it, because you don’t want be approved for a permit on days you aren’t able to get the dumpster.
Let’s take Naperville as a prime example of how outlying areas will differ from Chicago. The city of Naperville does not allow you to put a roll off container in an unimproved yard, publicly owned right of way or sidewalk. Furthermore, Naperville only allows you to have one dumpster at a time on your property.
Unlike the city of Chicago, you can only have a dumpster for 14 days at a time or 28 days throughout the calendar year. However, you can appeal to the Chief Building Official for an extension. If your project is going to last six months and you need access to a dumpster, you’ll need approval from the City Council.
If you have a dumpster associated with an active building permit, you are exempt from the regulations just mentioned, but only if the work is continuous and hasn’t ceased for a 30-day period.
Elmhurst also has its own set of rules and regulations regarding dumpsters. When placing one on a street or private property, the following rules must be followed:
- If on the street, flashing light barricades must be installed
- City inspector will do a site visit before the dumpster arrives before a permit will be issued
- There will be a $250 deposit that insures any damage to city property. It will be refunded if there is no damage
- Dumpsters can’t have any graffiti on them
- The $250 reimbursement usually takes about three weeks following the removal of the dumpster
Oak Lawn requires that dumpsters be placed on skids so as not to damage the road. This city also requires warning barriers with flashing lights. Unfortunately, the city requires the dumpster to be on a public roadway only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Any violation of the above rules will result in a fine that is not to exceed $500.
Obviously, every municipality will have a different take on the permitting process, so be sure to contact your local officials to ensure that you’re not violating local ordinances.
By now, you’ve determined that your project, even though it might be small, will generate enough refuse to require a dumpster to haul it off. Or, you’ve determined it’s going to be quite large and you might need multiple delivers and haul offs to keep your project on schedule. Now the question is, what size is right for my project and who do I call?
At A City Suburban Services, Inc., we don’t want your project to go off the rails, which is why we’re here to clear up any guesswork you’ve been doing about renting a haul-away dumpster.
Here’s a quick look at what size dumpsters we have and which projects for which they are perfect:
- 6 cubic yard
Up to 4,000 lbs of debris (small clean outs, bricks, dirt and concrete) - 10 cubic yard
Up to 5,000 lbs of debris (two car garage cleanout, small remodeling jobs and up to 1,000 square foot of single layer roof shingles) - 15 cubic yard
Up to 6,000 lbs of debris (medium remodeling job, and up to 1,500 square feet of single layer roof shingles) - 20 cubic yard
Up to 8,000 lbs of debris (Three car garage clean out or construction, large remodeling jobs and up to 2,200 square feet of single layer roof shingles) - 30 cubic yard
Up to 11,000 lbs of debris (New construction, large remodeling job, demolition of a small garage or a whole house siding or window job)
When you rent a dumpster from us, we’ll help you determine the right size and make sure you know all about the permits required in your area, so contact us today and let’s start planning.