Do You Need a Permit for a Dumpster in Massachusetts?

The short answer: probably not, if it's on your own driveway. Here's the full breakdown.

The General Rule

In Massachusetts, you do NOT need a permit for a dumpster placed on:

• Your own driveway
• Your own yard or private property
• A commercial parking lot you own or manage

You DO need a permit (usually a Street Occupancy Permit) for a dumpster placed on:

• A public street
• A town right-of-way
• Public property

Town-by-Town Guide

Billerica

No permit for private property. Street placement requires a Street Occupancy Permit from Billerica DPW. 1-2 business days to process.

Chelmsford

No permit for driveways. Street placement requires DPW/Highway Department permit.

Lowell

Street Occupancy Permit from Lowell DPW for street placement. 2-3 business days. Some downtown restrictions apply.

Tewksbury

No permit for private property. Street placement requires Highway Department permit.

Other Towns

Burlington, Wilmington, Bedford, Carlisle, Dracut, Westford, Andover, Woburn, and Lexington all follow similar patterns — private property is usually fine, street placement requires a permit.

How We Help

We've navigated the permit process in all 13 towns in our service area. When you call, we'll:

• Confirm whether your placement needs a permit
• Guide you through the application if needed
• Suggest alternative placement options to avoid permits

Call (978) 375-2272 and we'll sort out the permit situation for your specific town and project.