Dumpster permit in Wakefield, MA
Which permit you need
Wakefield splits dumpster permits by location. If the dumpster sits in the street or blocks a sidewalk, apply to the Engineering Division at 781-246-6309 for the $75 right-of-way permit. The application needs a photo or drawing of where it will go and a Certificate of Insurance from the dumpster company. If it sits on your own property, the Health Department handles it, and the town FAQ does not list that fee.
Downtown streets are tight, so ask early whether the placement will be in the street.
Costs besides the permit
The permit is only part of the bill. You pay the rental, a delivery charge and a weight or tonnage fee, and you do the loading. A roll-off should not hold concrete, drywall mixed with other trash or hazardous material unless the company accepts it, and the town excludes drywall, roofing, insulation, ceramic and concrete from its curbside bulky service, so there is no town fallback for that debris.
If you are clearing a basement or a house, our prices include labor: $319 for a half trailer and $519 for a full one.
Choosing between a dumpster and a trailer load
A dumpster fits a long renovation where debris builds up over weeks. A trailer load fits a one-day cleanout where you want things carried out and gone. In Wakefield, where street placement needs insurance paperwork and a $75 fee, a one-day pickup is often simpler for a single room or garage. Ask the DPW how long the permit lasts before you book the rental, since that sets the rental window. If you do rent a dumpster, ask the company whether it has handled Wakefield permits before, since they must supply the insurance certificate that the application requires.
Getting a dumpster permit in Wakefield
- Choose placement
Street or sidewalk means DPW Engineering; private property means the Health Department.
- Get a photo or sketch
Show where the dumpster will sit.
- Ask the hauler for insurance
The application needs their Certificate of Insurance.
- Apply and pay
$75 right-of-way permit; call 781-246-6309.
Local resources in Wakefield
Donation, reuse and recycling options near the pickup. We are not affiliated with these; confirm hours and what they accept before you go.
- Town
Wakefield Town Hall (DPW office)
Accepts: Bulky item and white goods stickers ($20), yard waste permits ($25), cell phone and eyeglass drop in the lobby
Buy stickers and the Nahant Street permit here or online; extension 4120 answers pickup questions. In Wakefield itself.
1 Lafayette St, Wakefield, MA 01880
Quick answers
How much is the permit?
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$75 for the right-of-way permit. The private property fee is not listed online.
Who do I call?
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DPW Engineering at 781-246-6309.
Do you need a permit for a trailer load?
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No. We load and leave on the same day.
Sources
Rules, fees and hours change, so confirm with Wakefield before you go.
- Wakefield FAQ: dumpster permits: “The permit application will need to be submitted with a photo or drawing of the proposed dumpster location ... a $75 fee will be charged” · accessed October 31, 2026
- Wakefield: Bulky Items, TVs & White Goods: “Construction materials, including sheet rock, roofing tiles, insulation, ceramic, granite, and concrete, are not permitted” · accessed October 31, 2026
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