Permits
Street permits for a dumpster, town by town
If the box goes on your driveway, skip this page. If it goes in the street, a curb lane, an alley or on the sidewalk, here is who to ask.
| Place | Permit and office | Fee | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | Right-of-Way Use permit (no excavation), Department of Business and Neighborhood Services, online through Accela | $40 application fee; usage charge depends on what you block (see below) | 7 to 10 business days, per the city checklist |
| Anderson | Dumpster Permit, City Engineer's Office, 120 E. Eighth St. | $10 on the city form | Valid 10 days from application |
| Pendleton | Right-of-Way Activity Permit, Town Planning Department (rules do not name dumpsters) | Ask the town | Ask the town |
| Alexandria, Elwood, Lapel, Ingalls | No published rule found | n/a | Call town hall |
Indianapolis in detail
The city's right-of-way page says you need a permit for private use of the public right-of-way, including equipment that takes up a traffic lane, curb lane or sidewalk. The city's right-of-way regulations go further and list "container placement" by name as something covered by the Right-of-Way Use permit.
Applying
- Create an account in the Accela Citizens Access portal. The city accepts right-of-way requests only online.
- Give the exact legal address of the nearest parcel and the dates the box will be there.
- Say which space you are blocking: traffic lane, shoulder, sidewalk or parking lane, and which side of the street. DBNS may ask for a traffic control plan (signs, barrels and how people on foot or bikes get around the box).
- If the spot has parking meters, a bus stop or a trail, say so. Meters cannot be removed without a permit, and you pay any meter fees while they are out of service.
- Wait for approval. The checklist says to expect 7 to 10 business days, longer if you file several at once.
You do not need to be a licensed contractor for a use permit with no digging. An unlicensed applicant on a big project may be asked for a site plan. Each location or street needs its own permit.
Extending
A permit can be extended one time, and only before it expires, using the city's Amendment/Extension form. More time after that means a new application. Extra fees can apply.
What it costs
The DBNS fee schedule that took effect on Jan 5, 2026 lists a $40 application fee on right-of-way permits.
Not shown on purpose: the daily or weekly charge for a dumpster. The 2026 schedule lists closure fees by the day (for example $50 a day for sidewalk use), while the city's 2021 regulations had a separate weekly charge for container placement. We could not confirm which one DBNS applies to a roll-off today. Ask at 317-327-8700 or [email protected] before you budget.
Hours trucks can work in the street
Work in the right-of-way is limited to 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on thoroughfares, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on other streets, and 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. downtown. That matters for delivery and swap times. Downtown has extra rules: see the Regional Center page.
Haulers need a city license too
Indianapolis requires a license for any vehicle that hauls other people's refuse. The 2026 fee is $286. It is fair to ask a hauler you have never heard of whether they hold one.
Beech Grove, Lawrence, Southport or Speedway address? Check with your city hall first; we have not confirmed whether those cities use the DBNS process.
Anderson in detail
Short version: $10, 10 days, City Engineer's Office. The Anderson page covers what the form asks for and why the date on it matters.
Pendleton in detail
Pendleton's code (Section 95.17) and its permit instructions require a Right-of-Way Activity Permit for work in public rights-of-way, streets, alleys, sidewalks, curbs or town property. Neither document says whether parking a container counts as work, so the Planning Department is the place to ask.