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Delaware County, PA Trash & Recycling: Dumpster Rules (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Type R sticker fee
$20 per container
License application fee
$150
License term
March 1 to Feb. 28
Enforcing agency
Solid Waste Management Department
Penalty escalation
$500 to $2,000, repeat offenses

Summary

Every roll-off or lugger container used to collect waste in Delaware County must be registered with the Solid Waste Management Department and carry a Type R hauling sticker, and using one without it is a separate summary offense for each day.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Delaware County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Solid waste hauling stickers. Each vehicle or roll-off or lugger container used for the collection and transportation of acceptable waste generated within the County must be registered with the office of the Solid Waste Management Department and identified with two solid waste hauling stickers issued pursuant to § 180-3D of this chapter. It shall be a summary offense under § 180-9J of this chapter for any person to use any vehicle or roll-off or lugger container for the collection and transportation of acceptable waste generated within the County unless said solid waste hauling stickers are affixed to such vehicle or roll-off or lugger container.

View official code

Full Breakdown

D. E(1)(a). A requires roll-off containers to be completely covered with a tarpaulin and made as airtight as possible, with tightly fitted, leakproof and dustproof doors or covers. I requires the tare weight of every roll-off container to be clearly and permanently printed on both sides. C. F. Nothing in the chapter regulates where a dumpster physically sits on a job site or a commercial lot; that placement, screening, and setback question is left to the borough or township zoning code where the dumpster is located, not to the County's solid-waste licensing scheme.

Violations & Fines

Using a roll-off or lugger container without the required Type R stickers affixed is a summary offense under § 180-9.J, with each day of continued violation a separate offense; a generator who allows an unlicensed hauler or unstickered container to collect its waste is separately liable under the same provision. Other chapter violations, such as failing to keep insurance or vehicle inspection current, carry escalating civil penalties up to $500 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second, and $2,000 for a third or subsequent offense under § 180-9.E.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do commercial roll-off dumpsters need a permit in Delaware County?
They need a Type R solid waste hauling sticker from the Solid Waste Management Department under Code § 180-3.B and § 180-3.D(4), registered to that specific container, not a separate placement permit; using one unstickered is a summary offense under § 180-9.J.
Does the County regulate where I can put a dumpster on my property?
No. Chapter 180 only licenses the containers and haulers that collect waste countywide. Where a dumpster or roll-off can sit on a lot, and any screening or setback requirement, is set by the borough or township zoning code, not the County.
What happens if a hauler swaps a container without new stickers?
The old stickers become void the moment the container is traded in, sold, or replaced, per § 180-4.C, and the hauler must obtain new stickers and affix them before putting the replacement roll-off or lugger container into service.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Delaware County

Parking Rules: Overnight ParkingSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Dog Leash LawsSome RestrictionsRecycling RequirementsSome RestrictionsIllegal DumpingSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Wildlife FeedingSome Restrictions

All Delaware County rules

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