It's easy to find space for a dumpster you rented from Tri-State Disposal when you have a relatively flat driveway or plenty of open lawn. But if you live in a community with steep driveways or where yard space is at a premium, the street may be your only option for parking your dumpster. Keeping your dumpster on the street can seem like an aggravating experience, but these tips can help make the entire process smoother and easier on you, your neighbors and even the dumpster rental company.
Permits Come First
Before you can have your dumpster delivered, you'll need to apply for an encroachment permit or a street use permit from your local department of public works or clerk's office. This essentially gives you permission to place your dumpster on the street for a short period of time. You'll need a permit in order to legally park your dumpster on the public right-of-way; otherwise, you could be subject to fines and other penalties.
In most cases, you may have to file the paperwork on your own. In others, the rental company may be able to handle the paperwork on your behalf, although this service may come with an additional fee.
Making Room for Your Dumpster
It's absolutely important to know how much space your dumpster will take up before bringing it onto the site. Larger dumpsters obviously take up more space and if streetside parking is at a premium, you'll want to balance your disposal needs with those of your fellow neighbors. Ideally, you'll want a dumpster that's no larger than the largest vehicle that's regularly parked on your street.
The rental company will also need enough space to drop off and pick up the dumpster, especially if the company uses the roll-off/roll-on method for loading and unloading dumpsters. As you assess the loading area, make sure there aren't any cars or other obstacles blocking the area. If you live on a cul-de-sac, there also has to be enough room for the truck to maneuver in and out of the area without getting stuck or hitting any obstacles.
Last but not least, you want to make sure the dumpster isn't placed in front of fire hydrants or clearly marked fire zones. You should also make sure the dumpster won't partially or completely block alleyways or driveways.
The Importance of Visibility
Visibility is another important factor when it comes to parking your dumpster on the street. Drivers will need to be able to see and move around this large and sometimes unexpected obstacle, especially if it's placed on an already narrow street. Here are a couple of tips that can help improve visibility:
- Place traffic cones in front of and behind the dumpster. Make sure the cones have reflective, high-visibility markings so drivers can see them at night.
- Make sure the dumpster itself is marked with white and orange reflective tape. When combined with the cones, the tape will add another measure of visibility for drivers.
- Make sure there aren't any other objects blocking drivers' view of the dumpster. This includes fallen branches and debris piles.
Keeping Time in Mind
Just because you have a permit doesn't mean you can keep your dumpster parked on the street indefinitely. Most permits limit streetside dumpster parking to a 30-day period, while others only allow dumpsters on the street for as little as 7 days. These periods can vary depending on your city or county's local ordinances.
But it's not just the time period offered by your permits that you should consider. You should also consider how long you might be able to keep your dumpster on the street before neighbors and others in the community began to complain. Consideration is a key part of making streetside dumpster parking a relatively stress-free experience, so consider how long it'll take you to use your dumpster.
Share