Fountain, CO Trash & Recycling: Dumpster Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- Fountain Municipal Code §§ 12.08.030, .040
- Permit issuer
- City public works department
- Right-of-way size cap
- 10 cubic yards
- Placement requirement
- On 1/2-inch plywood minimum
- Construction-site dumpsters
- No permit required, same size cap
- Appeal window
- 10 days to city clerk
Summary
Placing a dumpster or roll-off container in a Fountain, Colorado public right-of-way requires a permit from the public works department, one per location. Right-of-way dumpsters can't exceed ten cubic yards, must sit on plywood to protect the street, and cannot block drainage or rest on the curb or gutter.
No dumpster shall be placed in the public right-of-way without a permit issued by the city public works department. A separate permit shall be required for each dumpster location within the public right-of-way. ... A.Dumpsters shall not be larger than a ten cubic yard capacity.B.Dumpsters shall have covers to prevent the spread of debris.C.Dumpsters shall be placed upon plywood with a minimum of one-half-inch thickness to reduce damage to the street.D.Dumpsters shall not inhibit drainage in the area.E.Dumpsters shall not rest on the curb or gutter.F.Debris, trash, or refuse shall not be stored outside of the dumpster on the construction, home or business site.G.Dumpsters shall be emptied frequently so as not to allow trash to spill out.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 3).
Full Breakdown
08 of the Fountain Municipal Code splits dumpster rules by location. 030 requires a public works permit before any dumpster is placed in the public right-of-way, with a separate permit needed for each location; the city can refuse a permit that would create a safety hazard and can attach reasonable conditions. 040 then lists the physical requirements for a right-of-way dumpster: capacity capped at ten cubic yards, a cover to contain debris, placement on plywood at least one-half inch thick to protect the pavement, no blocking of drainage, no resting on the curb or gutter, no debris stored outside the container, and frequent emptying so trash doesn't spill.
100 relaxes this for dumpsters placed on a construction site rather than the right-of-way: no permit is required there, but the ten-cubic-yard cap, drainage, curb/gutter, and no-spillage rules still apply. 060. 070.
Violations & Fines
Placing an unpermitted dumpster in the public right-of-way, or failing to meet chapter 12.08's placement standards, allows the public works department to revoke the permit on ten days' notice, or immediately without notice for a safety hazard, and require the dumpster's removal. The permittee remains liable for repair costs and attorneys' fees the city incurs collecting damages, and a permit denial or revocation can be appealed to the city clerk within ten days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a dumpster in Fountain, Colorado?
How big can a roll-off dumpster be on a Fountain street?
Can the city make me move or remove a dumpster?
Sources & Official References
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