Jefferson Parish, LA Trash & Recycling: Dumpster Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit office
- Director of the Department of Building Permits
- Permit fee, up to 3 containers
- $12.50 a year, collected two years in advance
- Permit fee, over 3 containers
- $25.00 a year, collected two years in advance
- Enclosure height
- Twelve inches above the tallest container, at least 6 feet
- Front yard placement
- Prohibited except by special permit for hardship
- Hauler removal deadline
- 45 days after first delivery without a permit
- Fine
- $100 per day first violation, $500 per day after
Summary
In unincorporated Jefferson Parish, no dumpster can sit on a property until the owner or leaseholder applies for a permit from the Department of Building Permits. Premises with three or fewer containers pay $12.50, and every dumpster needs a four-sided enclosure at least six feet high with a gate that stays closed. Containers stay out of front yards and public rights-of-way, lids stay shut, and fines start at $100 per day.
No bulk waste container shall be placed on any premises unless the owner or leaseholder of the property has made application for a permit with the director of the department of building permits. A placard or other permit certification, shall be kept on the premises and produced upon request of the director or his designee. ... A permit applicant will be given thirty (30) days from the date the container is first delivered to the premises within which to receive final approval from the director of department of building permits. If a bulk waste container service company does not receive evidence of the issuance of permit within forty-five (45) days from the date the container is first delivered, the company shall remove the container from the premises. ... The dumpster enclosure must be completely enclosed on four (4) sides. The height of each enclosure shall be twelve (12) inches greater than the highest part of any dumpster or container contained therein, but not less than six (6) feet in height. ... For the first violation, the fine shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00) per day and five hundred dollars ($500.00) per day for all other occurrences.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Section 16-4(d) governs bulk waste containers, the dumpsters emptied by mechanical collection equipment. No container can go on a premises until the owner or leaseholder applies to the director of the Department of Building Permits, and a placard or other permit certification stays on site to be produced when the director or a designee asks. The application designates the number and location of every container. Containers used during construction on private property need no permit, and a three-month special events permit, such as for Mardi Gras, costs $6.00.
A premises with no more than three containers and no record of violations pays $12.50 a year, collected two years in advance. More than three containers costs $25.00. The permit is valid only for the calendar year of issue, so the owner files for renewal every year, and a delinquent application adds a $10.00 fee. Moving a container or adding one requires a modified permit at the same fee as a new one, with credit for money still on deposit.
Haulers carry their own duties. A company cannot deliver a container unless the customer holds a permit or can show an application. The applicant gets thirty days from first delivery to win final approval, and if the company has no evidence of a permit within forty-five days it must remove the container. Companies also file a list of active service accounts in the unincorporated areas with the Department of Code Compliance and Enforcement by November 15 each year.
Every bulk container user must build an enclosure closed on four sides, twelve inches taller than the tallest part of the dumpster and never under six feet. The exceptions are a garage or other enclosed storage area, or a dumpster in the rear of the property hidden from public view by opaque fencing. Enclosures need a building permit before construction, which also covers the dumpster, and sit on poured concrete or existing hardened paving. Gates have a sturdy metal frame, commercial grade hinges and opaque facing, and outward swinging gates are set back from the property line by at least the gate width.
The director also fixes the location of each container and enclosure. A dumpster cannot occupy a required parking space, and the pad for a new bakery, meat processing plant or similar food operation needs a raised slab, a covered drain and cleaning water facilities.
Violations & Fines
The fine for violating the bulk waste container provisions is $100.00 per day for the first violation and $500.00 per day for every other occurrence, and each day is a separate offense. A hauler that leaves an unpermitted container past forty-five days owes $100.00 per day. Violators also face forfeiture of permit fees on deposit, permit revocation, and renewal surcharges of $10.00 for a first violation per container and $20.00 for later ones. A cited container must be repaired within thirty days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a dumpster in my front yard in Jefferson Parish?
Does a construction dumpster need a permit?
What happens if a hardship prevents me from following the dumpster rules?
How full can a dumpster be, and what about the lid?
Do apartment buildings have to provide dumpsters?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jefferson Parish
Compare Jefferson Parish to another location·View the Louisiana trash & recycling overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.