Columbus, OH · street permit · prices
This page is for Columbus homeowners who need a residential roll-off for a remodel, cleanout, roof, or yard job — German Village and Short North / Victorian Village curb and tree-lawn approaches, Clintonville porch tear-outs, University District (OSU) move-out volume, Hilltop driveway length, or Brewery District mixed cleanouts. It covers which size fits the work, when 903 occupancy rules apply, typical published prices (each source labeled separately), and what City of Columbus / SWACO household hazardous waste guidance keeps out of a mixed box.
Sourced homeowner guide — not a live quote. Last researched September 16, 2026.
Uses Dumpsters.com Columbus size notes (verified 9/15/2026). That Columbus page lists 10 / 12 / 13 / 15 / 20 / 25 / 30 / 40. The cards below follow this site’s 10 / 20 / 30 / 40 pattern; ask the hauler if a 12, 13, 15, or 25 fits better than jumping sizes. Dimensions can vary by manufacturer; volume is what the size name means.
German Village and Short North / Victorian Village often have tighter curb and tree-lawn approaches; Clintonville and University District vary from alley-adjacent lots to longer approaches; Hilltop and many suburban Franklin County driveways fit a 20–30 yard more easily. Tree lawn, sidewalk, and street are public ROW — plan driveway placement when the box fits. Driver needs about 60 ft of length and 23–25 ft of vertical clearance (Dumpsters.com; hauler, not the city).
Best for: removing a wall, remodeling a half bathroom, garage junk, general yard waste. Prefer this size for heavy debris (concrete, dirt, brick, small roofing / wet shingle loads) so the weight cap is not blown.
Dumpsters.com Columbus: typical box 14′ × 7.5′ × 3.5′; about 3 pickup-truck loads. Driver needs about 60 ft of space and 23–25 ft of vertical clearance.
Best for: small home renovations, basement and attic cleanouts, downsizing before a move, driveway repair debris, kitchen tear-outs. Common residential default when the job is mixed volume rather than dense concrete or dirt.
Dumpsters.com Columbus: typical box 22′ × 7.5′ × 4.5′; about 6 pickup-truck loads. Mid sizes on that Columbus page: 12 / 13 / 15 / 25 if you need between 10 and 30.
Best for: garage demolition, home additions, estate cleanouts, large-scale lawn / hardscape work. Often needs serious length — street / sidewalk / alley / tree-lawn placement still needs the 903 occupancy path first when on the public way.
Dumpsters.com Columbus: typical box 22′ × 7.5′ × 6′; about 9 pickup-truck loads.
Prefer loose bulky debris over dense concrete or brick — weight, not yards, caps Columbus remodel loads, especially after rain.
Best for: home flipping, warehouse or multi-unit renovations, storefront remodels. Typical box is about 8 ft tall — better on jobsites than tight German Village or Short North approaches.
Dumpsters.com Columbus does list a 40-yard (verified 9/15/2026). Typical industry box: about 22′ × 7.5′ × 8′; about 12 pickup-truck loads. Confirm clearance and whether the hauler will place that size on your approach.
Prefer loose bulky debris; keep concrete / dirt / brick in a smaller heavy-debris box.
Dumpsters.com Columbus also lists 12-, 13-, 15-, and 25-yard sizes. Ask the hauler if a mid size fits your debris better than jumping from 10 to 20 or 20 to 30.
Required? YES — 903 Right-of-Way Occupancy Permit when the box occupies the public ROW (street / sidewalk / alley / parkway / tree lawn); prefer private driveway / private property. Dumpster-only occupancy limited to 7 days unless approved otherwise.
City of Columbus Department of Public Service requires a 903 Right-of-Way Occupancy Permit (Construction Related) when you temporarily occupy the public right-of-way with no excavation — the city page lists examples including “placement of dumpsters or storage containers.” Public right-of-way includes public alleys, parkways, roadways, sidewalks, streets, and tree lawns (city definition). Apply online via portal.columbus.gov/permits.
Chapter 903 Rules & Regulations PDF §14 Dumpsters/Containers (effective Jan 7, 2019): all dumpsters or containers in public ROW must have an occupancy permit. This does not apply to trash containers placed by the Refuse Collection Division. Vendor or permittee may hold the occupancy permit. Each dumpster needs reflectorized hi-intensity barricade tape (min 8″ orange/silver; two bands if under 4 ft tall, three if taller), company name + 24-hour phone on each side, a weatherproof 9″×12″ plastic envelope for the permit, and two lighted barrels (evaluated at application or if a hazard develops).
Seven-day limit: If the permit is only for a dumpster or container in the ROW and not part of a larger construction project, occupancy is limited to a seven (7) day period unless approved in advance as part of the permit process. Occupancy requests: submit at least three (3) working days in advance (§1.4.2); full street closure needs ten working days.
Dumpsters.com Columbus FAQ (verified 9/15/2026): no permit needed on your own property; street or sidewalk public ROW → Columbus Permit Department. Prefer private driveway / private property. Confirm property line, HOA / landlord rules, and DPS before curb, sidewalk, alley, or tree-lawn placement.
From the 903 Rules and Regulations PDF general permit fees for Excavation or Occupancy permits. These are municipal charges printed in that PDF — not a private 7-day rental quote, and not an invented flat “Columbus dumpster permit = $X.” Confirm current amounts with DPS / the online portal before budgeting (PDF effective date is 2019).
| Fee type (§7.3) | Amount (as printed) |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | $100.00 |
| Inspection Fee | $75 per hour |
| Reissued Permits | $50 |
| Emergency No Parking Signs | $0.50 each |
If a dumpster occupies an actual parking-meter space, §14 points to meter fees under §11 (charged in place). We did not invent a separate dumpster-only fee line beyond what §7.3 / §14 print. A dedicated 903 Occupancy Application Requirements PDF URL returned 404 when checked 2026-09-16 — omit that PDF until a live city link is confirmed.
Sourced ranges, not a single quote. Each row is labeled with the date and what that page actually measures. These are not mashed into one invented band.
$373–$1,029. Average $610.
Columbus, OH: $300–$750.
| Size | Published market estimate |
|---|---|
| 10 yard | $281–$425 (~$353) |
| 15 yard | $319–$480 (~$400) |
| 20 yard | $357–$536 (~$447) |
| 30 yard | $434–$629 (~$532) |
| 40 yard | $510–$757 (~$634) |
A dated 2026 blended envelope sits near $373–$1,029 (Dumpsters.com, avg $610, verified 9/15/2026). Angi prints Columbus location average $300–$750 (Jul 9, 2026). RightDumpster prints separate by-size market estimates ($281–$757 depending on size; updated June 12, 2026). Weight limits, overages, extra days, wet-load weight, and any 903 occupancy application / inspection / meter fees are usually extra — we did not invent those beyond what a source printed.
Omitted as invented city fee facts: any flat “Columbus dumpster permit = $X” beyond Chapter 903 Rules §7.3 printed figures (confirm current with DPS). Occupancy Application Requirements PDF not found (404). Angi has no Columbus by-size week table.
From City of Columbus household hazardous waste guidance (and SWACO partnership notes on the city HHW pages). These materials require special disposal and should never be thrown in the trash, poured down the drain or storm drain — and they do not belong in a mixed residential dumpster headed to ordinary disposal.
City guidance: never put HHW with regular trash; never dump into storm drains. Use the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) HHW program. Permanent drop-off listed on the city page: 645 E. 8th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43201 (Mon–Fri 9 AM–5 PM; first Saturday 9 AM–2 PM). Ask the hauler before you load gray-area items (tires, appliances with refrigerant, medical waste, etc.).
Program links: columbus.gov — Household Hazardous Waste Collection · columbus.gov — Hazardous Waste
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