Dumpster Rental in Truro, MA

Permits, placement and who may haul in Truro

Who may haul — we check first: In Massachusetts no one may haul refuse through a town's streets without a permit from that town's Board of Health (M.G.L. c.111 § 31A), and the permits run to the end of the calendar year. Truro's Board of Health says “Refuse haulers as defined herein must obtain a refuse haulers permit from the Truro Board of Health AND an Annual Commercial Refuse permit from the Department of Public Works,” vehicles carry the permit, have impervious floor and side liners, and “All loads shall be properly secured and covered,” and waste brought to the Truro Transfer Station must originate in Truro (Sec. V Art. 6). The same section defines refuse as excluding building demolition debris. We check the Town's rules before booking a container in Truro. We're licensed and insured.

On a town way: anyone building, repairing or taking down a building who wants to use part of a town way for building materials or rubbish gives notice to the Building Commissioner, who may grant a permit “in no case to be in force longer than ninety days,” on condition that lighting is placed “from sunset in the evening until sunrise in the morning” (General Bylaws § 1-9-12). Obstructing a street otherwise needs a written Selectmen's permit (§ 1-9-1). Driveway first. You don't need to be home as long as the area is accessible and we know where the container goes. Our smaller containers fit easily in most driveways, and we place boards under the container to help prevent damage to the driveway.

Keep it closed: the Board's nuisance regulation counts “A dumpster or disposal container to be left open or to overflow as to attract vermin” as a nuisance, and the Board may order it abated within twenty-four hours (Sec. XIV).

Fire-code permit: Massachusetts' fire code requires a permit from the head of the local fire department for a rubbish container over 6 cubic yards (527 CMR 1.00, Table 1.12.8.5); a container delivered and removed in the same business day needs none (1.12.8.5.1), and every container must be marked with the name and phone number of the company that can be reached in an emergency (1.12.8.5.2).

Cape Cod National Seashore: the Seashore's compendium lists the use of commercial vehicles on park area roads as an activity that needs a permit, which the superintendent issues to reach private land in or next to the park when there's no other access (36 CFR 5.6(c)). If the only way to your lot is a park road, tell us when you book.

State highways: Nothing may be placed on a MassDOT state highway without MassDOT's written permit (M.G.L. c.81 § 21), and MassDOT has no dumpster or container permit type — so beside one the container goes on private property, never in the highway layout. Not every stretch of a numbered route is state-owned, so we check the exact address.

Covered loads: Massachusetts requires loads of rubbish and debris to be fully and adequately covered on the road (M.G.L. c.85 § 36). Keep debris level with or below the top edge — an overfilled container can't be transported.

Remodel or tear-down: Massachusetts requires an asbestos survey before demolition or renovation work (310 CMR 7.15), and asbestos removal needs a MassDEP notice filed ten working days before work starts by the licensed abatement contractor. MassDEP's construction and demolition notice (AQ 06) does not apply to residential buildings with fewer than 20 units. Asbestos never goes in our containers — tell us if the survey finds any.

Summarized from the published local code and official web pages as read in October 2026. Codes change — confirm with the department listed before you rely on it.