Dumpster permits in Dorchester County

On your driveway in Dorchester County, a dumpster usually needs no permit. On a county road, ask Dorchester County Public Works whether you need a dumpster permit before delivery. County Code Sec. 38-21 limits encroachment permits for construction over, under or across county streets and property to a public purpose, convenience or necessity, or to utility provision.⁠¹

Sec. 38-28 makes failing to get a permit before such construction a misdemeanor.⁠¹ The County sources we verified do not mention dumpsters. Ask Public Works whether a dumpster on a county road needs an encroachment permit, and whether one can be granted.

Street placement may need a permit. When it does, you get it. We do not apply for permits on your behalf.

Skip the permit

Your driveway is the clean way out. Driveway placement usually needs no permit.

Summerville is the catch. Town Code Sec. 30-182(a) counts driveway aprons as right-of-way.⁠² Keep the box off the apron, or ask the Town first.

Have an HOA or POA? Check its rules before delivery. The dumpster in your driveway guide covers the setup.

Who to ask about a dumpster permit

Who maintains the road decides the office. A Dorchester County address does not tell you that. 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.⁠³

• County road. Dorchester County Public Works. It takes the County’s encroachment permit applications.⁠⁴
• State road. SCDOT. Its encroachment permit is a request for permission to work in SCDOT-maintained right-of-way.⁠⁵ Dorchester is county 18 in SCDOT’s secondary road numbering, so a route marked S-18-xxx is a state secondary road in Dorchester County.⁠⁶ See the SCDOT state road dumpster permit page.
• Summerville. The Town. Sec. 30-182(c) requires an encroachment permit from the Town Engineering Department for any activity or improvement in a right-of-way that affects it.⁠² On SCDOT roads inside the Town, Sec. 30-188 requires a Town permit in addition to SCDOT’s, and the Town engineering office gets a copy of the approved SCDOT permit before work begins.⁠⁷ Read the Summerville dumpster permit rules.
• Any other town. Call the town before you book.

How to apply

You apply, not us.

1. Call Public Works first. (843) 832-0070.⁠⁴ Ask whether a dumpster at your address needs an encroachment permit, whether one can be granted, what it costs, and how long review takes.
2. Submit. Online, or on the PDF application by mail, email, fax or hand delivery. The County’s application form says a permit is valid for twelve months from the date of approval.⁠⁴
3. State road: meet, then apply online. SCDOT strongly encourages a preliminary meeting with County or District staff before you apply through EPPS Next.⁠⁸ EPPS Classic logins do not carry over. Register a new EPPS Next account.⁠⁹

Get your answer before you book delivery. The rental runs 7 days. Extra days are $10 per day.

What it costs

• Dorchester County: not verified. We have no Dorchester County encroachment fee on record. Ask Public Works for the total before you apply.
• SCDOT: no fee. SCDOT charges nothing for its encroachment permit or for its online permit system.⁠⁵
• Summerville: $25. The Town’s Engineering Fee Schedule, revised July 1, 2026, sets a $25 encroachment permit fee for encroachment within a Town-maintained road right-of-way or drainage easement.⁠¹⁰ The line does not name dumpsters.
• RO RO Rentals: $499 flat. One 15-yard roll-off. Delivery, 7 days, up to 2 tons (4,000 lbs) of disposal, and pickup. Over 2 tons, it is $85 per ton, billed off the certified landfill scale ticket. Additional haul: $300.

Rules once it is placed

Follow the conditions on whatever permit you get. We have no verified Dorchester County placement rules for dumpsters. Beyond the permit:

• The shoulder counts. SC Code § 57-7-210 makes it unlawful to willfully place obstructions on any highway, and defines highway as the whole right-of-way, including shoulders and parking areas. Fine up to $100 per day, up to 30 days in jail, or both. The statute does not mention dumpsters or permits.⁠¹¹
• Do not overstay. Job done, call for pickup. Extra days run $10 per day under the rental extension policy.
• Load to the top rail, no higher. Heavy materials may require reduced fill levels. Every load is weighed at the disposal facility and billed by certified scale weight.
• Nothing prohibited. Hazardous waste, liquids, fuels, liquid or partially liquid paints, asbestos, tires, batteries, and appliances with refrigerants stay out. Restricted materials need approval before delivery. The full prohibited and restricted materials list spells it out. Prohibited material can get a load refused, and you pay cleanup and special disposal.

County sites will not take contractor debris

Dorchester County provides construction and demolition debris containers for residents at five convenience sites, but bans contractor and commercial dumping there. Violations are a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500 and/or 30 days.⁠¹²

Contractor debris needs another way out. Here is how much fits inside 4,000 lbs:

• Mixed C&D debris. EPA’s April 2016 table lists it at 417 lb per cubic yard.⁠¹³ 4,000 divided by 417 is about 9.6 cubic yards.
• Asphalt roofing. The same table lists composition roofing at 731 lb per cubic yard.⁠¹⁴ 4,000 divided by 731 is about 5.5 cubic yards.

The box holds 15 cubic yards, 405 cubic feet. With both, weight runs out before room does. Past 2 tons, it is $85 per ton. Text a photo of the pile to (843) 284-3707.

Who to call

• Dorchester County Public Works (county roads): (843) 832-0070, fax (843) 832-0064, 2120 East Main Street, Dorchester, SC 29437. 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.⁠⁴
• SCDOT Dorchester County maintenance office (state roads): (843) 563-3451, 5225 East Jim Bilton Boulevard, St. George, SC 29477.⁠¹⁵
• SCDOT EPPS help: 855-GO-SCDOT (855-467-2368) or 803-737-1200, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.⁠⁸
• Town of Summerville (listed contact): 843-871-6000, 200 South Main Street, Summerville, SC 29483.⁠¹⁶
• RO RO Rentals (the dumpster): call or text (843) 284-3707.

Next step

Call or text (843) 284-3707 with the address, what you are tossing, and the day you need it. Driveway or street, 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.