Dumpster permits in unincorporated Charleston County

Keep the dumpster on your driveway or other private property and you usually need no dumpster permit in unincorporated Charleston County. Put it in the public right-of-way and you may need a County encroachment permit, which Charleston County Public Works handles at (843) 202-7600.⁠¹⁠²

The County application covers “an encroachment in a public right-of-way or easement.”⁠¹ Ask Public Works whether your dumpster needs one before it goes in the road. On a state road, ask SCDOT. Inside a town or city, start with the town.

When a permit is required, getting it is on you. We do not apply for permits on your behalf.

Skip the permit

Private property is the clean way out. Driveway, private lot, job site. A dumpster there usually needs no permit and no office to wait on.

Two checks first. If you have an HOA or POA, read its rules before you book. And the truck needs room. You are responsible for clear access. The dumpster in your driveway guide covers the setup.

Who issues a dumpster permit in Charleston County

Two questions pick the office: is the address inside a town, and who maintains the road.

• Inside a town or city. Start with the town. City of Charleston Code Sec. 19-493 makes it unlawful to place or keep a dumpster on a public right-of-way without first getting a dumpster permit, and the Department of Traffic and Transportation issues them.⁠³ North Charleston requires a City encroachment permit for work in City road rights-of-way, through Public Works at (843) 745-1026.⁠⁴ Other towns are on the town-by-town dumpster permit pages. If yours is not listed, call the town.
• State road. A route marked S-10-xxx is a state secondary road in Charleston County.⁠⁵ An SCDOT encroachment permit is a request for permission to work in SCDOT-maintained right-of-way, and SCDOT charges no fee for it.⁠⁶ SCDOT strongly encourages a preliminary meeting with its County or District staff before you apply online through EPPS Next.⁠⁷ The SCDOT state road dumpster permit page walks through it.
• Unincorporated County. Outside town limits and off state roads, ask Charleston County Public Works. Check your address first. West Ashley, Johns Island, James Island and Cainhoy contain many unincorporated pockets that touch city limits but are still under Charleston County jurisdiction.⁠⁸

To check a road, SCDOT points people to its free Street Finder at ris.scdot.org, or to its Customer Service Center at 1-855-GO-SCDOT, Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm.⁠⁹

How to apply

You apply, not us. On the County form, the owner/applicant certifies, and an authorized agent may be an engineer, attorney, contractor, sub-contractor, authorized employee, or other.⁠¹

1. Call first. Ask Public Works whether a dumpster at your address needs a permit and which fee applies.
2. Submit. Online through the County’s EnerGov self-service portal with a complete set of site plans, or mail the printable application with site plans.⁠¹⁰ Mail goes to “Attn: PW Engineering, 3681 Leeds Ave, N. Charleston, SC 29405”.⁠²
3. Take the call. Once the request is received, a Public Works representative contacts you within 72 hours to coordinate collection of the $35.00 application fee and discuss next steps.⁠¹⁰ Ask then how long the rest takes.

If Public Works says anything has to come from the dumpster owner, call or text (843) 284-3707 before you apply.

Get your answer before you book delivery. Rental time starts on the confirmed delivery date and time, not the day the County signs off. Each day past 7 days is $10 per day.

What it costs

• Application fee: $35.00. The application form and the Public Works page both list it.⁠¹⁠¹⁰
• Plan review fee tiers. County Code Sec. 2-137 sets encroachment permit plan review fees at $35 for single-family residential, $100 for utility (non-SFR), $250 per encroachment for subdivisions and $500 per encroachment for industrial/commercial.⁠¹¹

The fee schedule does not say which tier covers a temporary dumpster.⁠¹¹ Do not guess. Ask Public Works for your total before you apply.

Our side: $499 flat for a 15-yard dumpster with 7 days and up to 2 tons.

Rules once it is on the street

On the County form, you certify under penalty of law that you will comply with the County’s encroachment requirements and County Road Code standards. You attach drawings and supporting details and consent to County inspectors entering the premises.⁠¹ Ask Public Works before delivery where it can sit, whether it needs markings, and how long it can stay.

The City of Charleston’s dumpster permit rule applies inside Charleston city limits.⁠³ Outside them, go by what Public Works tells you.

Keep access clear. The truck has to reach the dumpster at pickup. That is on you.

State law covers more than the pavement. SC Code § 57-7-210 makes it unlawful to willfully place obstructions on any highway, defined to include the whole right-of-way including shoulders and parking areas, with a fine of up to $100 per day, up to 30 days in jail, or both.⁠¹² The statute does not mention dumpsters or permits.⁠¹²

Who to call

• Charleston County Public Works (County encroachment permits): (843) 202-7600, [email protected]. Office at 3681 Leeds Ave., N. Charleston, SC 29405. Monday through Friday, 8:30AM to 5PM.⁠²
• SCDOT Charleston Maintenance (state roads): (843) 740-1655, 2401 Maintenance Way, North Charleston, SC 29406.⁠¹³
• SCDOT Customer Service (is it a state road): 1-855-GO-SCDOT.⁠⁹
• City of Charleston T&T Permits (inside city limits): 843-724-7378, [email protected].⁠¹⁴
• RO RO Rentals (the dumpster): call or text (843) 284-3707.

Next step

Call or text (843) 284-3707 with the address and where you want the dumpster. Driveway or road, say which. Or request a quote online.

Veteran-owned and operated. CAGE 193Y7. SAM UEI WDR4NMF8JJF1. Our yard is at 105 Barrington Blvd, Goose Creek, and we run dumpsters across Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties.