Dumpster permits on James Island, SC

On your driveway or other private property on James Island, you usually need no dumpster permit. On a Town of James Island road, the Town’s Road Construction Standards require an encroachment permit from the Public Works Director before any temporary or permanent placement of a structure or object in a Town road right-of-way or drainage easement.⁠¹

A dumpster is an object. Treat one on a Town road as covered and confirm with Public Works before delivery.

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. Usually no permit, no office, no wait.

One catch. The Town rule covers a drainage easement, not just a Town road right-of-way.⁠¹ If a drainage easement crosses your lot, keep the dumpster off it or ask Public Works first.

If you have an HOA or POA, read its rules before you book. Leave the truck a clear path in and out. The dumpster in your driveway guide covers the setup.

Who issues a dumpster permit on James Island

James Island in your address does not tell you whose street it is. Not every address on the island is in the Town.⁠²

• Town of James Island. Encroachment permit from the Public Works Director for any structure or object in a Town road right-of-way.⁠¹ Steps below.
• City of Charleston. Inside City limits, it is unlawful to place or keep a dumpster on a public right-of-way without a dumpster permit, and the Department of Traffic and Transportation issues it.⁠³ See the City of Charleston dumpster permit page.
• Unincorporated Charleston County. The City says James Island contains many unincorporated pockets (“donut holes”) that touch city limits but are still under Charleston County jurisdiction.⁠⁴ County Public Works takes encroachment permit applications for “an encroachment in a public right-of-way or easement.”⁠⁵ Ask them whether a dumpster at your address needs one. See the Charleston County dumpster permit page.
• State road. A route marked S-10-xxx is a state secondary road in Charleston County.⁠⁶ An SCDOT encroachment permit is a request for permission to work in SCDOT-maintained right-of-way.⁠⁷ See the SCDOT state road dumpster permit page.

How to sort it out:

1. State road or not. SCDOT points people to its free Street Finder at ris.scdot.org, or to 1-855-GO-SCDOT, Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm.⁠⁸
2. Town or not. Call Town Public Works at 843-795-4141 with your exact address.⁠⁹ Ask whether the road in front of it is a Town road.
3. City or County. Ask City T&T Permits at 843-724-7378 whether you are inside City limits.⁠¹⁰ On James Island, a parcel in neither the Town nor the City is unincorporated Charleston County.⁠²

How to apply on a Town road

You apply, not us.

1. Call first. Public Works, 843-795-4141.⁠⁹ Ask whether a dumpster at your address needs the encroachment permit, what it costs, and how to submit.
2. Fill out the form. The Town’s Application for Encroachment Permit asks for owner and contractor details and may require a traffic control plan near a roadway.⁠⁹
3. Turn it in. Applications go to Public Works at 1122 Dills Bluff Road, James Island, SC 29412.⁠⁹
4. Wait for the decision. The Public Works Director approves or denies permits within 30 days of receipt.⁠¹¹

Apply early. Book delivery after you have the answer.

If Public Works asks for anything from the dumpster owner, call or text (843) 284-3707 before you apply.

What it costs

• Town of James Island: User Fee schedule. Application fees follow the Town’s current User Fee schedules.⁠¹¹ We do not have the current dollar figure. Ask Public Works before you apply.
• City of Charleston: daily fees. The fee schedule effective August 16, 2021 sets a $17.50 daily inspection fee for a dumpster and adds $10.00 per day to any permit involving dumpsters. A non-metered parking space carries an $18.50 review fee.⁠¹² In a non-metered space, the two daily fees come to $27.50 a day ($17.50 + $10.00). Seven days of that is $192.50, plus the $18.50 review fee. Ask T&T Permits for the exact total for your dates.
• Charleston County: $35.00 application fee. The County encroachment application requires a $35.00 fee.⁠⁵ Ask County Public Works for your total.
• SCDOT: no fee. SCDOT charges no fee for the permit or for its online processing system.⁠⁷

Our side: $499 flat for a 15-yard roll-off with 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. Extra days run $10 per day.

Rules once it is on the street

On a Town road, do what Public Works and your permit say.

• Traffic control. Near a roadway, the Town form may require a traffic control plan.⁠⁹ If yours does, follow it.
• City streets. Under City Code Sec. 19-494, a dumpster may not go on a right-of-way if it can be placed on private property. It must not block traffic, needs retro-reflective marking, and must have barricades with flashing lights at each end.⁠¹³
• Top rail is the limit. Load no higher than the top rail. 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, oils, fuels, liquid or partially liquid paints, asbestos, pressurized containers, tires, batteries, and appliances with refrigerants stay out. Prohibited material can get a load refused, and you pay cleanup and special disposal. The prohibited and restricted materials policy has the full list.

Who to call

• Town of James Island Public Works (Town roads): 843-795-4141, 1122 Dills Bluff Road, James Island, SC 29412.⁠⁹
• City of Charleston T&T Permits (City streets): 843-724-7378, [email protected]. Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5pm.⁠¹⁰
• Charleston County Public Works (unincorporated pockets): (843) 202-7600, [email protected], 3681 Leeds Ave., N. Charleston, SC 29405. Monday through Friday, 8:30AM to 5PM.⁠¹⁴
• SCDOT Charleston Maintenance (state roads): (843) 740-1655, 2401 Maintenance Way, North Charleston, SC 29406.⁠¹⁵
• 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. Text a photo of the pile if you have one. 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.