Kokomo, IN Trash & Recycling: Dumpster Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- City of Kokomo Permits Office, City Hall
- Application lead time
- At least 48 hours before placement
- Max permit term
- 60 calendar days
- Intersection clearance
- 75 feet unless City Engineer approves
- Residential fee
- $20 per 30-day permit
- Penalty
- Up to $500 per day of violation
Summary
In the City of Kokomo, no company may place a construction dumpster or roll-off container on a public street or right-of-way without a permit from the Permits Office. Dumpsters may not sit within 75 feet of an intersection without City Engineer approval, and violators face a fine of up to $500 per day.
§ 120.03 PERMIT REQUIRED. ... No person, company, or business shall place any dumpster within any portion of a public street or upon public right-of way within the city limits, and no person, company, or business shall lease any dumpster to any third party for placement within any public street or upon public right-of-way, without obtaining a permit therefore as required by this section. ... § 120.11 INTERSECTION CLEARANCE. No dumpster shall be placed on a public street or upon the public right-of-way within 75 feet of an intersection unless specifically approved by the City Engineer, which approval will be noted in writing on the permit application as a "special condition." ... § 120.99 PENALTY. Any applicant found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be in violation of the terms of this chapter shall be subject to a fine of up to $500 per day for each day such violation continues. The Office of the Corporation Counsel is authorized to prosecute violations of this chapter, including seeking temporary and permanent enjoinment of any such violation.
Full Breakdown
Kokomo Code of Ordinances Chapter 120 governs any dumpster, including roll-offs, placed on a public street or right-of-way; dumpsters on private property are excluded under § 120.02. Under § 120.03, no person, company, or business may place or lease a dumpster for placement on a public street or right-of-way without a permit. Applications go through the municipal permit office at City Hall, 100 S. Union, at least 48 hours before placement (§ 120.07), and enforcement officers must approve or deny within 48 hours, extended by 24 hours over a weekend or holiday (§ 120.08).
Permits run a maximum 60 calendar days, with renewal applications due at least ten days before expiration (§ 120.09). Fees under § 120.10 run $20 for a 30-day permit on a non-metered residential street, $25 downtown, $1 per day per space in non-metered municipal lots, and $5 per day per space in metered spaces. Dumpsters must carry one square foot of reflective taping on each corner and cannot sit within 75 feet of an intersection absent City Engineer approval noted as a special condition (§ 120.11).
Permittees must also erect barricades or traffic barrels to warn motorists (§ 120.12). Denials and permit revocations can be appealed to the Board of Public Works and Safety (§§ 120.08, 120.14, 120.16).
Violations & Fines
Enforcement runs through the Office of the Corporation Counsel, which may prosecute in court and seek injunctive relief. A court finding of a Chapter 120 violation carries a fine of up to $500 per day for each day the violation continues, with each day treated as a separate offense. Permits can also be revoked outright if the dumpster sits at a materially different site than approved or obstructs traffic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to put a roll-off dumpster on a Kokomo street?
How close to an intersection can a dumpster sit?
What happens if I place a dumpster without a permit?
Sources & Official References
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