Bloomfield, NJ Trash & Recycling: Dumpster Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit office
- Community Development Department
- Public-area permit fee
- $300 per dumpster, term not to exceed 30 days
- Renewal
- One written renewal for $100
- Size cap in public areas
- No dumpster in excess of 30 yards
- Reflective panels
- Yellow diamonds, minimum 18 inches by 18 inches
- Penalty
- Minimum fine of $50 per offense, each day separate
Summary
Dumpsters in Bloomfield Township, New Jersey need a $300 permit from the Community Development Department before placement in a public area, and § 206-7 allows street placement only when the property has no room. Planking, chocked wheels and reflective panels are required, and each day in violation is a separate offense.
A. No dumpster shall be placed in a public area in a residential zone unless it is determined by the Community Development Department that there is not sufficient room on the private property of the person utilizing the dumpster to place the dumpster, and therefore, the dumpster is required to be placed in a public area. ... B. Dumpsters may be placed in public areas only upon the determination by the Community Development Department that there is no safe or practical place where the dumpster may be placed other than in the public area. C. All dumpsters placed in public areas are required to comply with the following conditions: (1) Planking or other wood sheeting of sufficient size is required to be placed under the wheels or road contact areas to protect the roadway from damage. If the dumpster has wheels, they must be chucked to prevent movement. ... (3) No dumpster shall be permitted in a public area the placement of which interferes with the free and safe flow of traffic or which otherwise stands in a hazardous location.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 206 of the Bloomfield Township Code, adopted 9-19-2005 by Ord. No. 05-29, regulates construction dumpsters and similar containers in public and residential areas of the Township. The Community Development Department is both the enforcement agency and the licensing office. Anyone who offers a dumpster for use or hire must register with the department first, at $300 per year under § 206-4, and every placement needs its own permit under § 206-5.
Section 206-7 controls where a dumpster can sit. In a residential zone, a public-area placement is allowed only if the Community Development Department finds there is not sufficient room on the private property of the person using it. Public areas include any street, sidewalk, highway, public lane, alley or Township parking lot. A dumpster on private property still cannot impede pedestrian or vehicular traffic or safety site lines. Planking or other wood sheeting must go under the wheels or road contact areas, and wheels must be chucked.
A roll-off dumpster parked on or along a roadway must display all yellow reflective diamond-shaped panels of at least 18 inches by 18 inches at both ends, mounted at least three feet from the bottom of the panels to the road surface. Dumpsters are barred on designated holidays, sale days and special event days. After removal, the area must be swept clean and restored to the Township Engineering Department's standards. Under § 206-7F, every dumpster must be covered at all times and cannot leak to the municipal storm sewer system.
The permit terms are in § 206-6: $300 per dumpster, a term not to exceed 30 days, one renewal for $100, and a daily fee of $10 per yard payable at application. No dumpster over 30 yards is allowed in public areas, and none can be placed more than 24 hours before construction starts or stay more than 24 hours after it ends. Applicants furnish insurance of at least $100,000/$300,000 for bodily injury and $100,000 for property damage, plus surety set by the Township Engineer.
Violations & Fines
Under § 206-8, each day that a dumpster is placed or used in violation of Chapter 206 is a separate offense, and each offense carries a minimum fine of $50. Under § 206-6I the department can revoke a permit at any time if the dumpster is a hazard to health, safety or welfare or a nuisance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a roll-off dumpster in Bloomfield Township, NJ?
Can a dumpster go on the street in front of my Bloomfield house?
How long can a dumpster stay in a public area in Bloomfield Township?
What safety equipment does a roll-off need on a Bloomfield road?
Sources & Official References
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