Do I need a permit for a dumpster in San Diego?
Driveway: Driveway/private-property placement needs no city permit. In the ROW, containers may not be placed in front of red (no-parking), white (passenger loading), or blue (disabled parking) curbs; typical clearances include 15 ft from fire hydrants, 25 ft from alley/curb returns and intersections, and 10 ft of clearance at the dumpster door.
Street or right-of-way: Yes. Any temporary storage container or roll-off dumpster that encroaches into the public right-of-way (street, parking lane, alley, or sidewalk) requires a Traffic Control Permit under San Diego Municipal Code sec. 129.0702, applied for with Form DS-269 plus a traffic control plan, submitted electronically at least 3 working days before placement. No permit is needed when the dumpster sits entirely on private property (driveway/yard).
Office: City of San Diego Development Services Department - Traffic Control Permits (electronic submission via the DSD online permitting portal; see Information Bulletin 718)
Fee: Per DSD Information Bulletin 718: dumpster in the ROW $176.57 per month plus an $87.68 processing fee; temporary storage container $87.68 per week (max 1 week); metered parking spaces add $20.00 per meter per day. Fees are updated with the city fee schedule - confirm current amounts with DSD before quoting.
Where does San Diego debris legally go?
| Facility | Gate fees |
|---|---|
| Miramar Landfill & Greenery (City of San Diego) 5180 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111 (Kearny Mesa/Miramar, minutes from the 92121 Trade St service area) | FY2027 schedule (effective July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027), weighed loads per ton: general refuse $102 city waste / $108 non-city; C&D debris $241 city / $257 non-city; special handling $142/$151; food material $108; green material $72; clean wood $36. Fees include the $15/ton recycling (AB 939) fee and $8/ton RCBT or franchise fee. Flat-rate tiers for cars/pickups start at $75 (city waste). Cash not accepted. |
| Sycamore Landfill (Republic Services) 8514 Mast Blvd, Santee, CA 92071 (approx. 15 mi east of Kearny Mesa via SR-52) | Republic Services does not publish public gate rates for Sycamore; pricing is quoted by load - call (619) 562-0530 for current tipping fees |
| Miramar Recycling Center (Allan Company, at Miramar Landfill complex) 5165 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111 | No disposal gate fee - accepts CRV beverage containers, cardboard, metals and other recyclables; CRV materials paid at buyback rates |
Local rules worth knowing
- Hauler licensing: San Diego grants NON-exclusive solid waste collection franchises (SDMC sec. 66.0101 et seq.) - any company placing roll-off dumpsters and hauling waste inside city limits must hold a Non-Exclusive Solid Waste Collection Franchise with the Environmental Services Department; the city publishes a directory of approved franchise haulers. Franchise haulers pay a per-ton franchise fee (currently $17-$18/ton reflected in Miramar gate rates) in lieu of the $8/ton Refuse Collector Business Tax (SDMC sec. 31.0306).
- C&D Debris Deposit Ordinance (SDMC Ch. 6, Art. 6, Div. 6): most construction, demolition and remodeling projects requiring building, combination or demolition permits must divert C&D debris from landfill - 65% by weight for permits issued on or after July 1, 2016. Applicants post a refundable diversion deposit and get it back by documenting use of a city Franchised Hauler or a Certified C&D Recycling Facility.
- Bulky item pickup (the dumpster trigger): homes with city collection get 2 free bulky-item appointments per year, up to 6 items each, scheduled through the Get It Done app or ESD at 858-694-7000. The program covers furniture and appliances, not renovation or construction debris - remodel waste, roofing, concrete and whole-home cleanouts exceed it and need a roll-off from a franchised hauler.
- Street placement: a Traffic Control Permit (Form DS-269, SDMC sec. 129.0702) is required before a dumpster occupies any street, parking lane, alley or sidewalk; working without one triggers stop-work orders, notices of violation and back-billed fees.
- Load economics at Miramar: mixed C&D debris tips at $241-$257/ton versus $102-$108/ton for general refuse and $36-$72/ton for clean wood/green material (FY2027) - source-separating loads materially changes disposal cost. All loads must be covered ($50 uncovered-load fee) and cash is not accepted at the scalehouse.
Permit questions
- Do I need a dumpster permit in San Diego?
- Yes. Any temporary storage container or roll-off dumpster that encroaches into the public right-of-way (street, parking lane, alley, or sidewalk) requires a Traffic Control Permit under San Diego Municipal Code sec. 129.0702, applied for with Form DS-269 plus a traffic control plan, submitted electronically at least 3 working days before placement. No permit is needed when the dumpster sits entirely on private property (driveway/yard).
- Which office handles it?
- City of San Diego Development Services Department - Traffic Control Permits (electronic submission via the DSD online permitting portal; see Information Bulletin 718)
- What does the permit cost?
- Per DSD Information Bulletin 718: dumpster in the ROW $176.57 per month plus an $87.68 processing fee; temporary storage container $87.68 per week (max 1 week); metered parking spaces add $20.00 per meter per day. Fees are updated with the city fee schedule - confirm current amounts with DSD before quoting.
Rates and local rules last checked August 2026 for San Diego and nearby areas.