Chicago dumpster permit: who files it and the fee schedule
You cannot pull this permit as a homeowner. The roll-off company applies to the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) online.
To qualify, the company needs $1 million in liability insurance that names the City and a letter of credit worth at least $5,000 (from our October 2026 check of CDOT's application form). That is why most quotes either include the permit or list it as an add-on. Ask which.
Where a permit is required
- Alley
- Curb lane
- Parkway (the grass strip between sidewalk and street)
- Sidewalk
All four carry identical rates.
One-time application fee
- Residential street
- $22.05
- Arterial street
- $55.13
- Downtown (Central Business District)
- $90.37
Container charge, 30 cubic yards or smaller
- Outside downtown
- $50 for 1–3 days, or $100 per month
- Downtown
- $100 for 1–3 days, or $200 per month
Container charge, over 30 cubic yards
- Outside downtown
- $100 for 1–3 days, or $200 per month
- Downtown
- $200 for 1–3 days, or $400 per month
Worked example
A 20-yard container on a residential side street for two weeks: the monthly rate of $100 plus the $22.05 application equals $122.05 in city fees. Whatever the company charges for handling the paperwork comes on top.
Sources
- CDOT 2025 Permit Fee Schedule (latest posted), read November 4, 2026
- CDOT dumpster application, read October 2026