Permits
Fort Lauderdale and Broward Dumpster Permits, City by City
On your own driveway in Fort Lauderdale, no. In the street, yes — and every Broward city has its own rule. What each city's own code says, with the department to call.
Read the guideSizing · 7 min read
What Size Dumpster Do I Need? A Fort Lauderdale Homeowner's Guide
Picking the wrong size is the most common — and most expensive — mistake in renting a dumpster. Too small and you pay for a second haul; too big and you pay for air. Here is how we size it on the phone.
- Licensed & insured
- Same-day in Fort Lauderdale
- Flat-rate pricing
- All of Broward County
Quick answer by project type
For a home renovation in Fort Lauderdale, a 20 yard dumpster — about six pickup truck loads — fits most single-room to multi-room jobs and is the size we rent most. Go 10 yard for a bathroom remodel or a garage cleanout, 15 yard for flooring, a deck or one big room, 30 yard for a whole-house renovation or a big roof, and 40 yard for demolition or commercial work. Not sure? Call (954) 287-2445 and we size it for you.
Count the debris in pickup loads
Walk the job and estimate how many full-size pickup beds it would take. Roughly: 3 loads is a 10 yard, 4–5 is a 15, 6 is a 20, 9 is a 30, 12 is a 40. Most people under-count by about a third, so when the number lands between two sizes, go up.
| Size | Pickup loads | Typical job | Weight included |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 yard | about 3 | Bathroom remodel, garage cleanout, broken-up pavers | 2–3 tons |
| 15 yard | 4–5 | Kitchen remodel, flooring, deck removal | 2–3 tons |
| 20 yard | about 6 | Multi-room renovation, whole-house cleanout, roof up to ~30 squares | 3–4 tons |
| 30 yard | about 9 | Renovation to the studs, new build, large roof | 4–5 tons |
| 40 yard | about 12 | Commercial demolition, multi-unit projects | 5–6 tons |
Check the weight, not just the volume
Volume and weight are two separate limits, and dense material hits the weight line long before the container looks full. Concrete, pavers, roof tile, terrazzo, plaster, dirt and sand are the Broward County regulars. For those, the right answer is usually a 10 yard loaded level with the sides — not a 20 heaped to the rail — because a loaded 20 of rubble is more than the truck can lift safely and more than the included tonnage covers.
Why weight matters to the price: the Broward County Landfill charges construction and demolition material by the ton — $100 a ton from 1 January 2026 — and every flat quote we give includes a stated tonnage. Load heavy material level and you stay inside it.
Measure the drop spot
A 10 yard is about 12 feet long and needs roughly 25 feet of straight, level driveway for the truck to set it down. A 20 or 30 is about 22 feet long and wants 35 feet. A 40 needs about 40 feet and overhead clearance for the lift. Low branches, power lines and boat trailers are the usual Fort Lauderdale obstacles.
If the container has to go in the street or swale because the driveway is too short, the City of Fort Lauderdale requires a right-of-way permit from the City Engineer (Engineering Permitting Division, 954-828-6520) — and several other Broward cities either require a permit or prohibit it. The permit guide covers every city we serve.
When in doubt, size up
A second haul costs more than the step up to the next size. If you are between a 15 and a 20, take the 20. If you are between a 20 and a 30 and the material is light, take the 30; if it is heavy, take two 10s or a 20 with a planned swap. Or describe the job on the phone and let us do the arithmetic — it takes about a minute.
Talk to a real person
Ready to book a container in Fort Lauderdale?
Call (954) 287-2445 with the address and what is going in. A flat price and a delivery window before you hang up.
Call (954) 287-2445
Open 24 hours, 7 days
From this guide
Frequently asked questions
What size dumpster do I need for a kitchen remodel?
A 15 yard covers most Fort Lauderdale kitchens — cabinets, countertops, flooring, drywall. If you are also gutting an adjoining room or replacing tile through the house, step up to a 20.
What size dumpster do I need for a roof replacement?
A 20 yard handles a tear-off of up to about 30 squares of asphalt shingle. Shingles are heavy, so for larger roofs, double layers or tile, a 30 with a higher weight allowance is the safer pick.
What size for a garage or estate cleanout?
A 10 yard — about three pickup loads — suits a single garage. A full estate or foreclosure cleanout with furniture and appliances usually needs a 20, and a 30 if the house is large.
Can a 20 yard fit in a Fort Lauderdale driveway?
Yes. It is about 22 feet long, 8 feet wide and 4.5 feet high, so a standard two-car driveway has room, and it needs roughly 35 feet of straight clearance for the truck. No permit is required on private property.
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Pricing
How Much Does a Dumpster Rental Cost in Fort Lauderdale?
Typically $250 to $650 flat rate by size, delivery and pickup included. What drives the number up — weight, days, permits — and how to get a firm quote in one call.
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Guide
Fort Lauderdale Dumpster Rental: The Complete Guide
Everything in one place: sizes, prices, permits, what goes in, how delivery works and what is different about renting a dumpster in Broward County.
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