Putting a dumpster on a Providence street or driveway

Short answer: the rental company applies for the city permit, not you, and the code says that applies on private property too. Your jobs are to pick the spot, keep the car situation legal overnight, and leave room on the sidewalk.

Who needs the permit

Section 12-61.1 of the Providence Code of Ordinances says anyone "engaged in the business of providing dumpsters" must get a permit from the Director of Public Works before placing one "on public or private property for any period of time." The permit names the size, the location and how long it can stay.

In practice that means the company you hire handles it. The city takes these applications online through its permitting portal, where the form is called the Temporary Dumpster or Pod Permit. When you compare quotes, ask each company two things: is the permit included, and how many days does it cover?

The permit fee is shown in the city's portal when an application is filed. We read a figure there, but could not confirm it in a second source, so we do not print it. A company that does this every week will know the current amount.

What the code asks of a container on the street

• On a sidewalk, footpath or roadway it must carry flashing beacon lights or orange and silver reflective work-zone sheeting, 24 hours a day.
• The owner's name and phone number must be painted on at least two sides.
• Containers under 20 cubic yards must be able to close on all sides. Larger ones must be securable so nothing spills.
• Within 200 feet of a home, it cannot be emptied or swapped between 11 PM and 7 AM.
• Fines under the code run from $1 to $500.

The city's separate rule on blocking the right-of-way is stricter in spirit: nobody may obstruct a street or sidewalk unless Public Works finds it does not unduly hinder people walking or driving. Leave a clear path on the sidewalk. Strollers and wheelchairs will need it.

Driveway placement

A driveway saves curb space and avoids a lot of trouble on a narrow street. Two Providence rules still apply:

• The code's private-property section says dumpsters should sit at least 20 feet back from the street line and be screened on three sides, unless Public Works waives that by permit. Ask the company whether its permit covers the waiver for your spot.
• Ask whether the company puts boards under the rails. Steel rails on soft or old asphalt can leave marks.

The 2 to 5 AM parking ban

On-street parking in Providence is never allowed between 2 and 5 AM without an overnight or guest permit. The police ended the old habit of not ticketing those hours. If the container takes your driveway, your car has to go somewhere at night.

The city lists a Temporary Overnight Parking Permit for residents whose driveway is tied up by work, with repaving and construction equipment given as examples. Apply through the city's parking portal before delivery day, not after the first ticket.

To hold a particular stretch of curb for delivery, the city's tool is an Emergency No Parking Tow Zone posting, requested inside the online Traffic Permit. Temporary paper signs then reserve the space.

Snow

When the city declares a snow parking ban, nobody may park on city streets, permit or not. A roll-off on the street during a storm is in the plow's way. If a storm is forecast, ask the company whether it will pull the container early or move it into the driveway.

Questions we get