Dumpster permit guide
Dumpster Permits in Montgomery County, MD
A dumpster on your own driveway or lot in Montgomery County, Maryland, does not need a county permit. The exception is a handful of small incorporated towns, mostly in Chevy Chase, that want their own permit even on private property. A dumpster on a public street does need a permit, and the permit comes from whoever owns the road: the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services for county roads, the city or town for streets in Rockville, Gaithersburg, Kensington, and other incorporated towns, and the Maryland State Highway Administration for numbered state routes. The county says its dumpster permit is typically issued in 1 to 2 weeks and is valid for six months.
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01 / Permits
The short version
| Where the dumpster sits | Permit needed? | Who issues it |
|---|---|---|
| Your own driveway, lot, or parking pad | No, in most of the county | Nobody. Check your HOA rules if you have one. The Chevy Chase villages and towns, Glen Echo, and Washington Grove are the exceptions (see below) |
| An HOA or condo parking lot, or a private community street | No government permit | The association decides |
| A county road in an unincorporated area (most of Silver Spring, Bethesda, Germantown, Potomac, Olney, Clarksburg, Damascus) | Yes | Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services |
| A City of Rockville street | Yes, and only if it cannot safely go on private property | City of Rockville Department of Public Works |
| A City of Gaithersburg street | Ask the city before you book | City of Gaithersburg Permits and Inspections |
| A Town of Kensington street | Yes | Town of Kensington |
| A City of Takoma Park street | Yes, 5 to 7 business days. Not needed in the driveway | City of Takoma Park Public Works, through the MyTKPK portal |
| Anywhere in Chevy Chase Village, the Town of Chevy Chase, Section 3, Section 5, Martin's Additions, Chevy Chase View, or North Chevy Chase | Yes, even on your driveway, and most of them ban street placement | That village or town. Our Chevy Chase page lists each one |
| A street in another incorporated town, such as Barnesville | Ask the town | That town |
| A numbered state route (MD or US) | Yes | Maryland State Highway Administration |
Most of our deliveries go on a driveway, and those need no permit at all. The rest of this page is for the times the street is the only option.
02 / Permits
First, figure out who owns your street
Your mailing address does not tell you. Most 20852 addresses that say Rockville are in unincorporated North Bethesda, under the county. Some Gaithersburg addresses, including North Potomac and parts of Quince Orchard, are outside city limits and fall under the county. Much of Kensington Heights, Rock Creek Hills, and Ken-Gar has a Kensington address but sits outside the Town of Kensington. Three quick checks:
- Does the road have a route number? Georgia Avenue (MD 97), Rockville Pike and Frederick Road (MD 355), Old Georgetown Road (MD 187), River Road (MD 190), New Hampshire Avenue (MD 650), and Route 108 are state roads. So are the other numbered MD and US routes.
- Are you inside an incorporated city or town? Rockville, Gaithersburg, Takoma Park, Kensington, the Chevy Chase villages and towns, Garrett Park, Glen Echo, Washington Grove, Poolesville, Brookeville, Laytonsville, Somerset, and Barnesville run their own streets, and the town's permit rules apply there. Your property tax bill names the town if you are in one.
- Is it a private community street? Many streets and alleys inside townhouse communities in Germantown, Clarksburg, Montgomery Village, and King Farm belong to the HOA. Those are the association's call.
If none of those apply, it is almost certainly a county road. Not sure? Call us with the address. We deliver across the county and can usually tell you.
03 / Permits
The Montgomery County dumpster permit, step by step
This covers county roads in unincorporated Montgomery County. It is the permit most of our customers deal with.
- Prepare a plan. The county asks for a plan showing the proposed location of the dumpster and the placement of the warning devices: traffic cones, reflectors, or barricades. On high-volume roads and in business districts it may also ask for a traffic control plan.
- Apply. You can apply online through the Department of Permitting Services eServices portal at any time, or in person at 2425 Reedie Drive, 7th floor, Wheaton, MD 20902, Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. Paper applications need two copies of the plan.
- Pay the filing fee. It is non-refundable and paid when you apply, by credit card, check, or e-check online. The amount is on the county's fee schedule.
- Wait for the permit. The county says a dumpster permit is typically issued within 1 to 2 weeks from submittal, depending on staff workload. Book your delivery date after you know when the permit will be ready.
- Meet the inspector before placement. Before the dumpster goes down, you schedule a pre-construction meeting with the assigned inspector to go over the location and any concerns.
- Set out the warning devices. Cones, reflectors, or barricades go around the container for as long as it is on the street. We do not supply them, so line them up before delivery day.
- Close it out. After the dumpster is picked up, contact the inspector for a final inspection. The permit is finalized once the inspector approves it.
The permit is valid for six months, which suits a long renovation with several swaps. The Department of Permitting Services can be reached at 240-777-0311.
04 / Permits
Rockville: the city runs its own right-of-way permits
Rockville is an incorporated city, so the county's dumpster permit does not cover you on Rockville streets. The permit is the City of Rockville's Public Works Permit for Protection of Right-of-Way.
The city's rule is stricter than the county's. Dumpsters and pods are allowed in the right-of-way or easement only when it is demonstrated that they cannot safely be placed on private property, as determined by the Public Works Department. So the first question is always whether the driveway works. In King Farm and Fallsgrove, the container usually goes on the driveway apron behind the house or in a spot the HOA approves.
If the street really is the only option, apply online through the city before you book your delivery. The city lists minor projects as reviewed within two weeks. Contact Rockville Public Works at 240-314-8500 or [email protected], Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.
05 / Permits
Gaithersburg
On a private driveway or pad, no permit. For a dumpster on a City of Gaithersburg street, contact the city's Permits and Inspections office at 301-258-6330 or [email protected] before you schedule delivery, and ask what they require for a temporary dumpster in the right-of-way. The county's permit does not apply on city streets.
Remember that some Gaithersburg addresses are outside city limits. Those fall under the county process above.
06 / Permits
Kensington
Inside the Town of Kensington, a dumpster or storage container has its own town permit, separate from any county permit. Contact the town office at 301-949-2424 before you schedule. Kensington addresses outside the town limits go through the county.
07 / Permits
Takoma Park
Takoma Park is an incorporated city with its own Dumpster and Storage Container Permit. A dumpster in your driveway needs no permit. On a city street or other city right-of-way, apply through the city's MyTKPK online portal, pay the invoice, and allow 5 to 7 business days. Do not have the container placed until the city confirms the permit is issued. Takoma Park Public Works: 301-891-7633 or [email protected]. More on our Takoma Park page.
08 / Permits
Chevy Chase and the small towns
This is where the driveway rule changes. Chevy Chase Village, the Town of Chevy Chase, Chevy Chase Section 3, Chevy Chase Section 5, Martin's Additions, Chevy Chase View, and North Chevy Chase each require their own permit for a dumpster on private property, and most of them do not allow dumpsters on their streets at all. Our Chevy Chase page lists each one with its phone number.
Two more towns have published rules. Glen Echo (301-320-4041) requires a permit, asks that dumpsters stay off town streets, and wants them covered overnight. Washington Grove (301-926-2256) needs a Temporary Use Permit reviewed at its monthly Planning Commission meeting, so allow up to a month.
Garrett Park, Poolesville, Brookeville, Laytonsville, Somerset, and Barnesville are incorporated too. None of them publishes a dumpster rule, so call the town office before you book.
09 / Permits
State highways
Numbered state routes belong to the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration, which requires a permit for activities in its right-of-way. That process runs through the MDOT SHA district office for Montgomery County.
In practice, nobody wants a dumpster on Georgia Avenue or Rockville Pike. A side street, a driveway, or a rear parking pad is almost always the better answer, and we can help you find one.
10 / Permits
HOAs and condo associations
Association rules apply on top of any permit, and in a shared lot they are the only rules that apply. Before you book, ask your HOA two things: how many days a container is allowed, and whether they want boards under it to protect the asphalt. We bring the boards. A 10 yard is 14 feet long and 8 feet wide and fits in most standard parking spaces.
11 / Permits
How to skip the permit entirely
The easiest permit is the one you do not need. Most single-family driveways in the county fit a 10, 15, or 20 yard. A 10 yard fits most townhouse driveways, and a 15 fits many. The 30 yard needs about 50 to 60 feet of straight approach for the truck and nothing low overhead. If the driveway is tight, a smaller size or two hauls is often simpler than a street permit.
Permits are the customer's responsibility. We are happy to tell you what we have seen work on your street, and to line up the delivery date with your permit.
Do I need a permit for a dumpster in my driveway in Montgomery County?
In most of the county, no. A dumpster on private property does not need a county permit. The exceptions are the Chevy Chase villages and towns, Glen Echo, and Washington Grove, which want their own permit even on private property. Your HOA or condo association may also have its own rules.
How long does a Montgomery County dumpster permit take?
The county says a dumpster permit is typically issued within 1 to 2 weeks from submittal, depending on staff workload. Apply before you pick a delivery date.
How long is a Montgomery County dumpster permit valid?
Six months from issue.
Does the county permit cover me in Rockville or Gaithersburg?
No. Rockville, Gaithersburg, Takoma Park, Kensington, and the other incorporated towns issue their own permits for their streets, and state routes go through the Maryland State Highway Administration.
Can I put a dumpster on a Rockville street?
Only when it cannot safely go on private property, as determined by Rockville Public Works, and only with the city's right-of-way permit. Call 240-314-8500 before you book.
What warning devices does the county require?
Traffic cones, reflectors, or barricades around the container, shown on the plan you submit with the application.
Who gets the permit, me or the dumpster company?
The customer. We will tell you what we have seen work on your street and schedule delivery around your permit.
13 / Permits
Official sources
- Montgomery County DPS: Dumpster Permit and Inspection Process
- Montgomery County DPS: Right of Way Permits
- City of Rockville: Public Works Permit, Protection of Right-of-Way
- City of Gaithersburg: Permitting and Inspections
- Town of Kensington
- MDOT SHA: Access Management and Permits
Permit rules change. We recheck these sources at least once a year and update the date at the top of this page when we do.
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