Dumpster permit rules in 23 Columbus-area cities
Sorted by population. "Own rule" means the city publishes something that names dumpsters or containers. "General ROW permit" means a permit is needed for any work in the right-of-way, but dumpsters are not named, so call the office before you book a street drop. Blank fee or time cells mean the city does not publish one.
| City | Type | Street and property rule | Fee | Time limit | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Franklin, Delaware, Fairfield Co. · 933,263 | own rule | 903 Occupancy permit from the Department of Public Service right-of-way office On the property: No city permit named for a box on private property | $100 application fee (903 rules, effective Jan 7, 2019) | 7 days unless approved in advance | 903 Occupancy how-to (columbus.gov PDF) 903 Rules and Regulations, effective Jan 7, 2019 Get a Right of Way Permit page Title 13 refuse code, revised 9/16/25 Read Nov 11, 2026 |
| Newark Licking Co. · 51,424 | general ROW permit | Division of Engineering issues use-of-public-right-of-way permits; dumpsters not named | Not published on the page | Allow at least 2 weeks for approval | Engineering and Zoning page Read Nov 11, 2026 |
| Dublin Franklin, Delaware, Union Co. · 49,456 | general ROW permit | General right-of-way permit; the 2024 application does not name dumpsters | $450 non-residential application (Ver. 1/2/2024); residential not checked | Permit void 6 months after issue | 2024 Non-Residential ROW Permit Application Read Nov 11, 2026 |
| Delaware Delaware Co. · 46,521 | own rule | Right-of-way permit, category Dumpster/Storage Pod, Public Works | $35 since Feb 1, 2026 (was $25) | Not published | ROW Permit Application Guidance, 6/23/2023 edition Engineering notice on ROW fee changes, Jan 30, 2026 Read Nov 11, 2026 |
| Grove City Franklin Co. · 44,019 | own rule | Not allowed in the right-of-way for single-family homes (1137.20) On the property: Paved surface, outside the right-of-way, one box per lot | Not published | 3 months a calendar year for remodeling without the Chief Building Official's written OK | Codified Ordinances 1137.20 Dumpsters (Ord. C26-06, passed 5-1-06) Read Nov 11, 2026 |
| Reynoldsburg Franklin, Fairfield, Licking Co. · 42,897 | not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet (earlier lead: general right-of-way chapter 907) | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Earlier lead only |
| Lancaster Fairfield Co. · 41,671 | own rule | Limited occupancy permit for any dumpster in the public right-of-way; may be issued to the box supplier | Not published | Not published | Lancaster Codified Ordinances, right-of-way rules (Ord. 8-13, Ord. 13-19) Read Nov 11, 2026 |
| Hilliard Franklin Co. · 38,832 | general ROW permit | Right-of-way permit for any work from sidewalk to street, OpenGov portal; dumpsters not named | Not published on the page | Not published | Engineering Department page Read Nov 11, 2026 |
| Westerville Franklin, Delaware Co. · 38,612 | own rule | POD/dumpster right-of-way permit, Engineering review, filed in the Plan Review Portal On the property: Zoning certificate listed for POD/dumpster | Not published for this permit | Not published | Forms and Online Portals Submit a Permit Read Nov 11, 2026 |
| Upper Arlington Franklin Co. · 36,140 | own rule | Not allowed in the street or city right-of-way On the property: No permit needed on the property | None for private property | Must be emptied once full | Property Maintenance FAQ Read Nov 11, 2026 |
| Gahanna Franklin Co. · 35,544 | own rule | Right-of-way permit for every dumpster or container in the right-of-way (rule 1.3.1), Department of Engineering | Plan review fee per city fee schedule (amount not in the rules) | Permits run 6 months at most | ROW Rules and Regulations, effective 04/24/2024 Read Nov 11, 2026 |
| Marysville Union Co. · 29,276 | general ROW permit | Right-of-way permit for any work in the right-of-way; dumpsters not named | Not published on the page | Inspections need 24 hours notice | Form Center: Right-of-Way Work Read Nov 11, 2026 |
| Pickerington Fairfield, Franklin Co. · 25,814 | nothing published | No published dumpster rule found. Searched: web search limited to pickerington.net; amlegal code search. | Searched Nov 11, 2026 | ||
| Whitehall Franklin Co. · 19,940 | PODs only | Portable storage units need a Service Department permit; dumpsters are not named On the property: Same POD permit | Not published | PODs: 7 days in a row or 14 days in 180 | General Building Guidelines Read Nov 11, 2026 |
| Pataskala Licking Co. · 18,493 | nothing published | No published dumpster rule found. Searched: web search limited to pataskala.gov; amlegal code search. | Searched Nov 11, 2026 | ||
| Worthington Franklin Co. · 14,649 | nothing published | No published dumpster rule found. Searched: amlegal Title One (Streets and Sidewalks) chapter list; property maintenance code amendments (Ord. 15-2019); worthington.org search. | Searched Nov 11, 2026 | ||
| Powell Delaware Co. · 14,613 | nothing published | No published dumpster rule found. Searched: web search limited to the city domain; general web search. | Searched Nov 11, 2026 | ||
| Circleville Pickaway Co. · 14,433 | nothing published | No published dumpster rule found. Searched: web search limited to circlevilleoh.gov (found only a food-truck ROW permit). | Searched Nov 11, 2026 | ||
| Bexley Franklin Co. · 12,793 | nothing published | No published dumpster rule found. Searched: amlegal Chapter 1060 (section titles) and 1060.07; bexley.org search. Note: 1060.09 is titled licensing of haulers (text not read). | Searched Nov 11, 2026 | ||
| New Albany Franklin, Licking Co. · 11,604 | own rule | Right-of-way permit, box marked Dumpster/Storage Unit, occupancy only | $75 application fee | Permit void 6 months after issue; extensions up to 90 days each | Right-of-way Permit Application, REV 9/26 Read Nov 11, 2026 |
| Heath Licking Co. · 10,822 | nothing published | No published dumpster rule found. Searched: web search limited to heathohio.gov; amlegal code search. | Searched Nov 11, 2026 | ||
| London Madison Co. · 10,743 | nothing published | No published dumpster rule found. Searched: amlegal Solid Waste chapter (titles only). Note: 1060.08 is titled private solid waste collectors; licenses (text not read). | Searched Nov 11, 2026 | ||
| Canal Winchester Fairfield, Franklin Co. · 10,060 | nothing published | No published dumpster rule found. Searched: amlegal code search; canalwinchesterohio.gov search incl. Nov 10, 2025 planning minutes. | Searched Nov 11, 2026 | ||
| Unincorporated Franklin County county roads | general ROW permit | The County Engineer says anyone who will place anything in right-of-way under county control needs a right-of-way permit. Dumpsters are not named. Township roads are not addressed on the page. | No fee for these permits | Not published | Franklin County Engineer, right-of-way permits Read Nov 11, 2026 |
How to read a blank row
"No published dumpster rule found" is not the same as "no permit needed." Several of these cities require a permit for any work in the right-of-way, and a box in a parking lane may count. Ask the city engineering or service office, and ask the roll-off company if it pulls the permit. In Columbus and Lancaster the rules say the permit can be issued to the company that supplies the box.
Townships
Large townships such as Washington, Violet, Jackson, Orange and Norwich are not incorporated cities and are not listed one by one. Roads there may belong to the township, the county or the state. In Franklin County the County Engineer handles county road right-of-way.
Populations: US Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 sub-county estimates. Rules read Nov 11, 2026.