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Dumpster permit in Dedham, MA

A roll-off dumpster in the driveway of an older New England house with bagged debris beside it on an autumn day

What the town code says

Chapter 160 of the town code covers dumpsters. All dumpsters in Dedham must be approved for sanitary purposes by the Board of Health and for location, construction and screening by the Inspector of Buildings. Every dumpster requires a permit issued by the Inspector of Buildings, with the fee set by that office. The screening rule, a six-foot fence or other approved barrier, is aimed at permanent dumpsters at businesses and buildings.

A cleanout or renovation roll-off is a construction-type dumpster. The code gives it a permit from the Inspector of Buildings for up to six months, renewable for a fee. A dumpster at a paper recycling drop on municipal or nonprofit property is exempt.

The Health Department permit and fee

The Health Department says it permits and inspects dumpsters along with food establishments and pools. Its Regulations & Forms page has a "Regulation for Dumpsters" PDF and a "Dumpster Permit Application" on the town's online portal.

The regulation says no one may use or keep a dumpster in Dedham without a Board of Health permit, and it covers private individuals as well as businesses. The application needs a certified plot plan showing the dumpster, property lines, buildings, fences and screening. Permits expire at midnight on December 31 each year and must be renewed annually. On use, every dumpster must be screened from view at ground level by opaque fencing, and one holding garbage needs a tight lid, locked between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.

The Health Department fee schedule lists the dumpster permit at $100. The Building Department posts no separate dumpster fee that we could find; the town code says the Inspector of Buildings sets it. The two documents differ on who issues the permit, and the regulation is written for dumpsters kept on a property rather than a short-term roll-off. So ask both offices which one covers a cleanout container. Health Department: 781-751-9220, Town Hall, third floor, 450 Washington St. Building Department: the Building Commissioner's line, 781-751-9182, or Town Hall at 781-751-9100.

Also ask: how long it takes, whether the container can sit on the street or only in the driveway, and whether the rental company pulls the permit. The town posts no street-placement rules.

A house with a short driveway or a shared drive

A 10- or 20-yard roll-off needs about 8 feet by 22 feet of level, hard surface and clear overhead space. Many Dedham lots in East Dedham, around Oakdale Square and near Dedham Square are narrow, on a slope, or shared with a neighbor. A street placement needs town approval and a place to put the container. A dumpster also sits for days or weeks, and anything you throw in has to be loaded by you, up the stairs and out the door.

A JunkRun trailer replaces all of that for a cleanout up to a full load. We carry from the basement or attic, load, and leave. A quarter trailer is $209, a half $319, three quarters $409 and a full trailer $519. Construction debris like plaster, lumber or flooring is priced by the load too. Text a photo and we say which fits.

Dedham dumpster: who to call

QuestionOfficeNumber
Dumpster permit under town code (construction or cleanout)Inspector of Buildings, Building Department781-751-9182 (Building Commissioner)
Dumpster regulation, Board of Health permit and applicationHealth Department, Town Hall third floor781-751-9220
Street or sidewalk use, parkingAsk both offices; no rule is posted onlineSee above
Skip the permitJunkRun trailer load, no container on siteText a photo

Local resources in Dedham

Donation, reuse and recycling options near the pickup. We are not affiliated with these; confirm hours and what they accept before you go.

Quick answers

Do I need a permit for a dumpster in Dedham?

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Yes. The town code says all dumpsters in Dedham need a permit issued by the Inspector of Buildings, and construction-site dumpsters get a permit of up to six months. The Health Department regulation also requires a Board of Health permit.

How much is a dumpster permit in Dedham?

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The Health Department fee schedule lists the dumpster permit at $100. The town code says the Inspector of Buildings sets that office's fee and none is posted online. Call 781-751-9182 and 781-751-9220.

Who issues the dumpster permit in Dedham, the Building or Health Department?

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The town code names the Inspector of Buildings. The Health Department's regulation names the Board of Health, and its permits expire each December 31. Confirm with both before ordering.

Can I put a dumpster on the street in Dedham?

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The town does not post street-placement rules. Ask the Building Department before the rental company drops it.

How can I avoid a dumpster permit?

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Use a trailer load. JunkRun carries items out of the house and takes them away the same visit, with no container on your lot or street.

Sources

Rules, fees and hours change, so confirm with Dedham before you go.

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