Dumpster permits in North Charleston

You usually need no dumpster permit in North Charleston if the dumpster sits on your driveway or other private property. On a street you may need an encroachment permit: the City’s for City road rights-of-way, with applications to Public Works at (843) 745-1026, or SCDOT’s for roads under SCDOT jurisdiction.⁠¹⁠²

The City’s encroachment application has no dumpster category.⁠³ So call Public Works before a dumpster goes on a City street, not after.

Street placement may require permits depending on city or county requirements. 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, yard, job site. A dumpster there usually needs no permit.

Two checks. HOA or POA? Read your covenants before delivery. And you are responsible for clear access. The dumpster in your driveway guide covers the setup.

At a single-family home, the permit is not the only rule.

One dumpster per parcel, and time limits

North Charleston Code Sec. 9-67 declares nuisances. Subsection (7) covers construction-related dumpsters and portable toilets.⁠⁴

• One dumpster per parcel. More than one dumpster and one portable toilet on a parcel is a nuisance in single-family residential settings, under Sec. 9-67(7)(a).⁠⁴ A contractor’s dumpster on the lot counts as the one. Need more room? Book an additional haul ($300) instead of a second dumpster.
• 90 days for repair or remodeling. In single-family residential areas, a construction-related dumpster becomes a nuisance after more than 90 days within a rolling 364-day period, under Sec. 9-67(7)(b).⁠⁵
• 270 days for new construction. Same subsection, same rolling 364-day period.⁠⁵

Need longer? For documented unanticipated conditions or unusual hardship, the director of code enforcement may grant one additional 90-day administrative waiver. Longer extensions go to the public safety and housing committee as variances.⁠⁵

These limits are written for construction-related dumpsters. Cleanout, not construction? Ask City code enforcement whether they apply.

A standard rental is 7 days. A long remodel is where these limits bite.

Who issues a dumpster permit in North Charleston

Who owns the road decides the office.

• City road. The City of North Charleston requires its encroachment permit for work in City road rights-of-way and City-maintained easements. Applications go to Public Works.⁠¹
• State road. SCDOT. North Charleston says many of its roads are under SCDOT jurisdiction, and work on those roads needs an SCDOT encroachment permit rather than a City permit.⁠² A route marked S-10-xxx is a state secondary road in Charleston County.⁠⁶ The SCDOT state road dumpster permit page walks through it.

To check a road, SCDOT points people to its free Street Finder at ris.scdot.org or its Customer Service Center at 1-855-GO-SCDOT, Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm.⁠⁷ Still not sure who owns your street? Ask Public Works.

Not the City of Charleston. That city has its own dumpster permit, issued by its Department of Traffic and Transportation.⁠⁸ Different code, different office. The City of Charleston dumpster permit page covers it.

How to apply

You apply, not us. For a City road:

1. Call first. Public Works, (843) 745-1026.⁠¹ Ask whether a dumpster at your address needs the encroachment permit, and how long approval takes. We have no verified processing time.
2. Submit the application to Public Works at 5800 Casper Padgett Way.⁠¹ The City’s application form is linked in the sources at the bottom of this page.
3. Plan for inspection. Work must be inspected, with 24 hours’ notice to 745-1026. The permit expires 180 days after issue.⁠³

If Public Works says a signature, insurance, or anything else must come from the dumpster owner, call or text (843) 284-3707 before you apply.

On a state road, SCDOT strongly encourages a preliminary meeting with County or District staff before you apply online through EPPS Next.⁠⁹

What it costs

• City encroachment permit: no fee listed. The City’s application lists no fee.⁠³ No fee listed is not the same as free. Confirm with Public Works.
• SCDOT encroachment permit: no fee. SCDOT charges no fee for the permit or for its online processing system.⁠¹⁰

Our side: $499 flat for a 15-yard dumpster with 7 days and up to 2 tons. Over 2 tons, it is $85 per ton.

Rules once it is on the street

We have not verified any City rule written for street dumpsters. These apply:

• Do not block traffic. North Charleston Code Sec. 17-133(a) prohibits knowingly and intentionally engaging in conduct that impedes, or is likely to impede, pedestrian or vehicular traffic on any public street, sidewalk or roadway.⁠¹¹
• State law. 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. Violations carry a fine of up to $100 per day, up to 30 days in jail, or both. The statute does not mention dumpsters or permits.⁠¹²
• Clear access. The truck has to reach the dumpster. That is on you.

Who to call

• City of North Charleston Public Works (City roads, encroachment permits): (843) 745-1026, 5800 Casper Padgett Way.⁠¹ Inspection calls go to 745-1026, 24 hours ahead.⁠³
• SCDOT Charleston Maintenance (state roads): (843) 740-1655, 2401 Maintenance Way, North Charleston, SC 29406.⁠¹³
• SCDOT EPPS help: 855-GO-SCDOT (855-467-2368) or 803-737-1200, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.⁠⁹
• Code enforcement (the 90-day waiver): the director of code enforcement decides.⁠⁵ We have no verified direct number. Ask the City to route you.
• 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 street, say which. Contractor dumpster already on the lot? Say that too. Or request a quote online.

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