10 yard
Best for: small cleanouts, a bathroom remodel, or heavy debris like concrete or brick filled only partway.
Dumpster rental in Cambridge — size, street permit, typical price
This page is for Cambridge homeowners renting a roll-off for a remodel, cleanout, roof, or yard job. It covers size, the Dumpster License + TP&T Dumpster Permit (what the city page actually says), and published prices with each source labeled.
Sourced homeowner guide — not a live quote. Last researched October 13, 2026: official permit pages and published prices fetched that day.
Driveway or street? Decide before you call
Placement decides the permit in Cambridge. Run these checks before you book.
- Will the whole box sit on your driveway or lot? Then it stays off the public right-of-way. In Cambridge a Dumpster License is still required for every dumpster.
- Street, curb lane, sidewalk, or alley? Cambridge requires a Dumpster License for every dumpster, plus a Dumpster Permit when it sits on a city street.
- Lead time: not printed on the city page — check with the city and order early.
Unsure who pulls the permit, you or the hauler? See who applies for the dumpster permit.
Have these five answers ready when you call
- Job type and debris: remodel, roof, cleanout, yard, or heavy material like concrete, dirt, or brick.
- Size you think you need (10 or 20 yard covers most homes; see the Size chooser below).
- Placement: driveway, yard, or street, and roughly how much straight approach the truck gets.
- Drop-off date and how many days you need it.
- Questions for the quote: included tons, overage per ton, extra-day charge, and anything the hauler won’t take.
Comparing more than one quote? Use the 7-day quote checklist so the numbers line up.
Calls to this number are tracked. You may be connected to a partner. We may be paid if the call qualifies.
Size chooser
No Dumpsters.com Cambridge size page was available; sizes below are the common residential ladder — confirm what local haulers stock. Weight, not just yards, drives overage charges — fill dense debris only partway, and measure driveway length and overhead clearance.
20 yard
Best for: the common residential default — kitchen remodels, basement or attic cleanouts, mixed debris.
30 yard
Best for: large renovations, additions, or whole-house cleanouts. Check driveway length first.
40 yard
Best for: big gut jobs with loose, bulky debris; avoid dense loads that hit the weight cap early.
Street permit
Required? YES — Cambridge requires a Dumpster License for every dumpster, plus a Dumpster Permit when it sits on a city street.
The City of Cambridge says: “A Dumpster License is required in Cambridge for both temporary and permanent dumpsters. Dumpsters that will be placed on a City street also require a Dumpster Permit from the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department.”
So in Cambridge even a driveway box needs the license; a street box needs both. Sanitary and Housing inspectors check dumpsters for cleanliness, rodent control, leakage, overloading, and closed covers, and can fine up to $300.00 per day for a violation.
The license page does not print the license or permit fee — check with the city.
How to apply
- Dumpster License: Inspectional Services, 831 Massachusetts Ave., 1st floor, 617-349-6100.
- Street placement: Dumpster Permit from the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department.
- Ask the hauler which of the two it handles.
Fees
Fees for the Dumpster License and the TP&T Dumpster Permit are not printed on the license page. None are shown here — check with the city. The $300/day figure is a violation fine, not a permit fee.
Typical price
No sourced Cambridge rental price was found on October 13, 2026, so none is shown. Ask for a written quote with tons, days, overage, and permit handling.
The call button on this page is a tracked partner line for a rental quote (see the disclosure next to the button), not a Cambridge permit-desk number. Permit fees in the section above are municipal charges, not a rental price.
What not to put in
Ask before you load. Keep household hazardous waste (paint, solvents, chemicals, batteries), tires, appliances that hold refrigerant, and anything flammable or toxic out of a mixed roll-off unless the hauler confirms it can take it. Local household-hazardous-waste drop-off rules were not checked for this Cambridge page — ask the hauler or the city.
Gotchas
- The city permit fee is separate from the hauler’s rental price.
- Weight, not just yards, drives overage charges — fill dense debris only partway.
- HOA, co-op, and landlord rules are not the city permit. Check them separately.
Sources
- City of Cambridge — Apply for Dumpster License — fetched 10/13/2026
Cambridge dumpster FAQs
- Do I need a permit for a dumpster in Cambridge?
- YES — Cambridge requires a Dumpster License for every dumpster, plus a Dumpster Permit when it sits on a city street.
- How much is a Cambridge dumpster permit?
- The Cambridge city page we fetched does not print a permit fee — check with the city.
- How far ahead should I apply in Cambridge?
- The Cambridge page does not print a lead time — check with the city and apply early.
- What does a dumpster rental cost in Cambridge?
- We did not find a published Cambridge price we could source, so none is listed. Get a written local quote.
- What size dumpster do most Cambridge homeowners need?
- Most Cambridge residential jobs fit a 10-yard for heavy debris or a 20-yard for remodels and cleanouts. Weight and driveway length matter as much as yards.