Passaic, NJ Trash & Recycling: Dumpster Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Permitting authority
- City Engineer
- Governing section
- § 259-1; fee schedule § 259-5
- Dumpster permit fee
- $50 for 10 days
- Safety requirement
- Reflectors on both ends
- Violation fine
- $100–$500 + costs, per day
Summary
Placing a dumpster, roll-off box or any similar object on a Passaic street, alley or sidewalk requires a permit from the City Engineer first. Chapter 259's obstruction article bans unpermitted materials and objects on the public way, and the fee schedule sets a specific $50, ten-day dumpster permit with mandatory end reflectors.
No person shall, without first obtaining a permit from the City Engineer, put, place or throw any brick, stone, earth, sand, gravel, paper, lumber, wood, coal, ashes, chips, shavings, broken glass, leather, cloth, hair, scraps, vegetables, fruits, refuse or rubbish upon any part of the public streets, alleys, footways, sidewalks, pavements, crossings, gutters, drains or sewers of the City... Except as explicitly provided in this chapter, no person shall place any object, article, box, barrel, basket, sign, advertising device, foodstuff, merchandise, vending machine, stand or anything of any kind whatsoever on or over any sidewalk or portion thereof between the building line and curb, except garbage, ashes and rubbish for collection in the manner provided by law.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4978046; v41 updated 2026-07-01; through 07-01-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 259-1, most recently amended by Ord. No. or anything of any kind whatsoever' on or over a sidewalk between the building line and curb except garbage, ashes and rubbish set out for collection in the lawful manner. A commercial or roll-off dumpster placed at curbside for construction, cleanout or business use falls squarely within that 'anything of any kind whatsoever' language and needs a permit. Section 259-5, the companion fee schedule for street-work permits, itemizes a specific dumpster permit fee of $50 for a ten-day placement and requires reflectors on both ends of the dumpster so it is visible to traffic at night.
Unlike other street-opening permits under this chapter, dumpster permits are exempted from the 24-hour inspection-notice requirement, but they are still subject to the 21-day permit expiration and bonding provisions that apply generally to work in the public right-of-way. Applications go through the City Engineer's office rather than the Department of Public Works trash-collection side of the code, reflecting that this is a right-of-way placement control, separate from Chapter 157's residential container rules.
Violations & Fines
Violating § 259-1 carries a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 plus costs, with each day a violation continues charged as a separate offense. Placing a dumpster without the required City Engineer permit, or without the reflectors mandated for permitted dumpsters, exposes the responsible party or company to that fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to put a dumpster on the street in Passaic?
How long can a permitted dumpster stay on a Passaic street?
What is the fine for an unpermitted dumpster blocking a Passaic sidewalk?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Passaic
Compare Passaic to another location·View the New Jersey trash & recycling overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Dumpster Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Passaic County handle dumpster rules.