Dumpsters, Storage Pods and Construction Materials in the Street in San Diego

The permit for a dumpster or storage container in the street is a Traffic Control Permit, issued by the Development Services Department. It is separate from the Right-of-Way Permit used for building curbs, sidewalks and other improvements.

• Dumpsters and storage containers. The Traffic Control Permit page lists "the installation of a temporary dumpster or storage container in the public right of way" among the things that need this permit, and says there are no exemptions. Information Bulletin 718, "How to Obtain a Traffic Control Permit for a Storage Container or Dumpster," says the permit is required for containers that encroach into the public right-of-way, including the sidewalk area, citing Municipal Code section 129.0702.
• Other work in the street. The same page says the permit is also required for construction projects or other work encroaching into the public right-of-way, including sidewalks, parking spaces, medians, alleys and streets, and for the temporary use of a street, sidewalk or parking lane for business purposes.
• What the applicant submits. Bulletin 718 asks for the Traffic Control Plan/Permit form (DS-269) and a traffic control plan following the California MUTCD, with start and end dates, the street and nearest cross streets, and a drawing showing the bin's location, distances to the nearest driveways, parking meters, painted curb zones, bus stops, street and lane widths, and the bin's size. It requires at least three working days' notice before placement; the permit page warns that processing can take about 15 business days.
• Fees and time limits. As of November 2, 2026, Bulletin 718 lists $87.68 per week for a temporary storage container, "with a maximum use of one week," $176.57 per month for a dumpster (Information Bulletin 177 describes it as up to 4 weeks), a flat $87.68 processing fee, and $20 per metered space per day. A storage container permit is valid for up to 7 days; extensions need City Engineer approval and must be requested at least 5 working days before it expires.

Without a permit. Information Bulletin 177 says work in the right-of-way without an approved or current traffic control permit results in a stop of work, a notice of violation and Building and Land Use Enforcement fines, and that fees for continuous encroachment without a permit are back-billed. All permitted sites are subject to City inspection without notice.

• On private property. Bulletin 718 ties the permit to containers that encroach into the public right-of-way. A bin that sits entirely on private property, such as on a driveway inside the property line, is outside that permit. As of November 2, 2026, we did not find a City page setting other placement rules for a bin kept wholly on private land; private rules such as an HOA's may still apply.
• The sidewalk is public. The City's Right-of-Way Permit page notes that the distance from the property line to the face of the curb can range from 10 to 22 feet. That means the sidewalk, and often the planting strip and the part of the driveway that crosses them, are public right-of-way. A bin that hangs over the sidewalk or sits on the driveway apron is "encroaching" even if it starts on the driveway.
• General rule against objects in the street. Municipal Code section 54.0110 makes it unlawful to place or allow to remain any object on a public street, alley, sidewalk or other public right-of-way, except as otherwise provided by the Code.

Bulletin 718 lists placement criteria for permitted storage containers and dumpsters. As of November 2, 2026, it says:

• Not at painted curbs. They may not be placed in front of a painted curb, such as a red no-parking zone, a white passenger loading zone or a blue accessible parking zone.
• Clearances. At least 10 feet to the nearest obstruction, at least 25 feet to an alley or curb return (the corner of an intersection), and at least 15 feet to a fire hydrant.
• The City's typical layouts. The bulletin's diagrams show the bin in the parking lane, at least 10 feet from any driveway and in front of the project or moving site, with at least 12 feet of lane between the bin and the street center line. For storage containers the layout adds that the street must be at least 36 feet wide curb to curb with parking on both sides, or 32 feet with parking on one side, that the container may not extend more than 8 feet into the street, and that there must be 12 feet to a double yellow line.
• Bike lanes. Bulletin 718 does not mention bike lanes. The DS-269 form's general conditions say travel lanes must be at least 12 feet wide, and 14 feet next to a bike lane, unless the City Traffic Engineer approves otherwise. For other bike lane problems, see our bike lanes and crosswalks guide.

The bulletin also says vehicles may not park in the leftover space of a dumpster zone, and violators are subject to parking citations. Because the City Engineer can change an approved plan to suit field conditions, a bin that looks close to a rule may still have been approved for that spot.

• Barricades with flashing lights. The typical dumpster layout in Bulletin 718 shows a Type I or II barricade with flashing beacons or lights at each end of a dumpster in the parking lane. The DS-269 conditions add that cones and delineators must have reflectorized sleeves.
• No Parking signs 72 hours ahead. Bulletin 718 says the permit holder must post Tow-Away/No Parking signs 72 hours before placing the container or dumpster and deactivating any parking meters. If a car is parked in a posted zone, see our parking guide.
• Keeping the sidewalk open. Bulletin 718 counts the sidewalk area as public right-of-way, so a bin on the sidewalk needs a permit too, and its typical layouts put bins in the parking lane rather than on the sidewalk. Where work does affect the sidewalk, the DS-269 conditions say pedestrian circulation must be kept through an ADA-compliant alternative walkway, a reasonable detour, or the existing path reopened in ADA-compliant condition. As of November 2, 2026, we did not find a City-published minimum clear width specific to bins on a sidewalk. If a blocked path affects someone with a disability, Get It Done also has an A.D.A. Compliance Issue report.

• Lanterns at each end. Municipal Code section 54.0116 says anyone placing building material, cement, sand, gravel, dirt or a similar substance in a street or alley must put lighted lanterns at each end, two feet above the ground and plainly visible, kept burning from half an hour before sunset to half an hour before sunrise, and must put up a barrier around it when ordered.
• Barriers and warning lights for obstructions. Section 54.0117 requires anyone doing work in a street, alley or sidewalk that interferes with or endangers traffic or pedestrians to keep barriers and warning lights at each end and along the work, no more than 50 feet apart, and says an obstruction in an intersection must be lighted and barricaded to leave a reasonably safe lane. Violating it is a misdemeanor. Municipal Code section 129.0702 requires a Public Right-of-Way Permit for construction activity in the right-of-way as required by these two sections.
• Dirt and debris left on the street. Section 54.0115 makes it unlawful to drop or deposit dirt, rock, glass or debris on a paved street or let it leak from a vehicle, and each day it stays is a separate offense. The DS-269 conditions require permitted crews to remove dirt, dust and debris from the street at the end of each day.
• Scaffolding. As of November 2, 2026, we did not find a City page with rules written specifically for scaffolding over a sidewalk. Scaffolding or materials placed in the street or on the sidewalk fall under the Traffic Control Permit's coverage of construction work encroaching into the right-of-way. For unpermitted construction on private property itself, see our code enforcement guide.

Get It Done is the City's reporting system (website and app). As of November 2, 2026, the City's Get It Done page lists these report types as available:

• Dumpster Encroaching on Public Right of Way. The City's guide to Get It Done reports lists it under Environmental Services and says to use it for "a dumpster encroaching into the public right-of-way (street or sidewalk)," and that it "is handled by code enforcement to achieve compliance." Use it for a bin or storage container with no posted permit, one blocking the sidewalk or a bike lane, one too close to a corner or hydrant, or one without lights at night. The form showed an estimated resolution time of 14 days, and says the property must be in compliance before the report is closed. As of November 2, 2026, the City's Get It Done service status listed this report type as "Impacted", so a reply may take longer than that.
• Other (streets, sidewalks and lights). For loose building materials, scaffolding or a construction obstruction that is not a dumpster. The City says Other reports are not processed automatically and may take more time to review, so add a clear description and a photo.
• Urgent: 619-527-7500. Get It Done is for non-emergency problems. For an urgent street hazard, such as an unlit bin in a travel lane at night, Get It Done lists 619-527-7500. Call 911 if someone is hurt or a crash is likely.
• Before you report. Look for posted No Parking signs with dates, which a permitted placement should have, and note the bin company's name and phone number, the address, which lane or sidewalk is blocked and the time. Get It Done asks for your contact information. For more on Get It Done in general, see our guide to reporting a problem to the City of San Diego.

• Overflowing dumpster. Get It Done has a separate Dumpster Overflow report; as of November 2, 2026, it also showed an estimate of 14 days. Municipal Code section 66.0126 requires those in charge of homes and businesses to provide containers big enough for the waste between collections and to keep the area around them clear of waste. It also says franchisee containers used only for dry waste such as construction debris may be kept uncovered, except as required while being carried on a street.
• Dumping next to someone's bin. Couches, mattresses or debris left beside a bin, on the sidewalk or in the street are illegal dumping: use Get It Done Illegal Dumping. Section 66.0103 makes it unlawful to place solid waste on public or private property other than a permitted solid waste facility, and makes the person responsible liable for cleanup costs. Our illegal dumping guide covers reporting, fines and legal disposal options.
• Someone filling your rented bin. As of November 2, 2026, we did not find a Get It Done report type for people throwing their own trash into someone else's rented dumpster. Talk to the bin company about a lid or lock and about overweight or prohibited items. Do not confront anyone. For regular household carts, see our trash and recycling pickup guide.

• A franchise is required to haul waste for others. Municipal Code section 66.0108 says no person may collect and transport, recycle or dispose of residential or commercial solid waste in the City without first obtaining a City franchise agreement, and that the vehicle must carry a current City tag or decal. Section 66.0133 makes operating without a franchise unlawful.
• Exclusions. Section 66.0109 excludes, among others, waste that a property owner or occupant (or their full-time employees) hauls personally to a licensed facility; construction and demolition debris removed by a licensed contractor with its own employees and its own or rented equipment as part of a larger job, rather than only a hauling service; and inert recyclables such as concrete, asphalt, dirt and rock.
• Find a franchised hauler. Environmental Services publishes a Franchise Hauler Directory that shows which franchised haulers offer roll-off bins and other equipment, and says the City does not assign haulers or set rates for businesses and privately-serviced residences. Section 66.0126 says franchisee containers must be clearly marked with the franchisee's name and phone number, which is how to identify the company behind a bin.
• Construction and demolition recycling. Environmental Services' C&D recycling page says most construction, demolition and remodeling projects that need building, combination or demolition permits must divert their debris from landfill and pay a refundable deposit, and it lists using franchised haulers as "recommended to help ensure compliance." For permits issued on or after July 1, 2016, the diversion requirement is 65% by weight.