Knoxville Dumpster Permit Guide

Last updated: October 28, 2026. This guide covers when a roll-off dumpster needs a permit around Knoxville and who to call. Rules are set by each city, county, and the state, and they can change. Every cost below comes from a published government form. Where an office does not publish a dumpster rule or fee, we say so. Call that office to confirm before delivery.

Do you need a permit? The short version

• Private driveway or yard: none of the city or county right-of-way rules we checked apply to a container that sits entirely on private property. HOA rules, leases, and property-management rules can still limit it. See our driveway placement guide.
• Public street, parking space, sidewalk, or alley: plan on needing permission from the government that controls that road. In the City of Knoxville, the Parking Permit Application lists dumpsters as a type of work.
• State highway: work on Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) right-of-way needs a TDOT permit, even inside a city.
• Not sure who owns the road? Look up the address first. Many "Knoxville" mailing addresses are in unincorporated Knox County, Farragut, or another city.

City of Knoxville

The City's Parking Permit Application, from the Engineering Department's traffic division, names "Dumpster" in its description-of-work field. It lists an Outer District Project permit at $5 per day for each parking space, with restrictions, for things like neighborhood construction, dumpsters, and moving.

The same form lists these other rates for each space:

• AM half day (12:01 a.m. to 11:59 a.m.): $15
• PM half day (12:01 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.): $20
• Full day (up to one month): $35 per day
• Long term (one to three months): $25 per day
• Annual service permit: $500 per year (restrictions apply)

How to apply: fill out the form with the street, the cross streets, start and end dates and times, and the number of spaces. Send it to [email protected], call (865) 215-6151, or go to 3131 Morris Ave., Knoxville, TN 37909. The form says an online reservation portal is "coming soon." The form does not give a processing time, so call to confirm how much lead time you need. It also does not say which streets count as the "outer district," so ask when you apply. For sidewalk or lane closures beyond parking spaces, ask the same office whether you also need temporary traffic control approval.

Unincorporated Knox County

Knox County Engineering & Public Works says anyone who wants to work in county right-of-way must get a permit before the work date. Permits are required for both above-ground and below-ground work. The county reviews permits within 30 days of receiving the application. Its page is written for roadway and utility work and does not mention dumpsters. If you must put a container in a county road or shoulder, call (865) 215-5800 (205 W. Baxter Ave.) and leave at least that 30-day window. In practice, most county homeowners keep the container on the driveway. This applies to areas such as Powell, Halls, Karns, and Hardin Valley.

Nearby cities

• Farragut: all town permits go through MyGovernmentOnline (mgoconnect.org). Call Planning & Zoning at (865) 675-2384 before placing anything in a street or right-of-way. The town does not publish a dumpster-specific fee.
• Maryville: Engineering & Public Works issues right-of-way permits, (865) 273-3500. Its published application is written for excavation, so call to confirm what a street-placed container needs.
• Alcoa: call Building and Codes at (865) 380-4730. No dumpster rule or fee is published.
• Oak Ridge: City Code Title 17 says refuse containers may not block vehicle travel on streets or pedestrians on sidewalks. For street placement, call Public Works at (865) 425-1875.
• Sevierville: Municipal Code Title 16, Chapter 4 requires a Construction within Right-of-Way Permit from Public Works. Apply online under "Planning and Zoning" and then "Right of Way." The permit is issued after payment. Public Works is at (865) 429-4567. No fee is published.
• Lenoir City: call Codes Enforcement and Planning at (865) 986-9876. No dumpster rule is published.
• State routes: call the TDOT Region 1 Traffic Office at (865) 594-2456.

HOAs, apartments, and historic districts

Even when no government permit is needed, an HOA or landlord can limit how long a container stays and where it can go. Some require written approval first. Read your covenants or ask your manager before you book. Historic overlays mainly control exterior work, not containers. Check with Knoxville-Knox County Planning if your project is in an H or NC overlay.

Placement tips that avoid permit problems

• Keep the whole container, including the rails and any boards under it, on private pavement, not the curb or sidewalk.
• Leave room for the truck to get in and out. Look for low wires, branches, and gates.
• Put plywood under the rails on asphalt you want to protect.
• Do not block sidewalks, mailboxes, hydrants, or storm drains.
• If it must go in a street, get the permit before delivery day and keep a copy at the site.

Choosing a size? Compare the 10-yard, 15-yard, 20-yard, and 30-yard dumpsters, or see pricing. A smaller container is easier to fit on a driveway.

Dumpster Permit FAQ

Do I need a permit for a dumpster in my driveway in Knoxville?

None of the city or county right-of-way rules we checked cover a container that sits entirely on private property. Check your HOA, lease, or property-management rules.

How much is a dumpster permit in the City of Knoxville?

The City Parking Permit Application lists an Outer District Project rate of $5 per day for each parking space, with restrictions, for dumpsters, moving, and neighborhood construction. Other rates on the form are $15 (AM half day), $20 (PM half day), $35 per day (full day), and $25 per day (one to three months), each per space.

Who issues dumpster street permits in Knoxville?

The City of Knoxville parking permit office at 3131 Morris Ave., (865) 215-6151, [email protected]. In unincorporated Knox County, call Knox County Engineering & Public Works at (865) 215-5800.

How long does a permit take?

Knox County says it reviews right-of-way permits within 30 days. The City of Knoxville form does not give a processing time, so call to confirm how much lead time you need.

Does the rental company get the permit?

Usually the customer or contractor applies, because the permit is tied to the project address. Ask when you book. We will help you plan placement, but the permit is issued by the local government.

What if my address is in Farragut, Maryville, or Sevierville?

Each city runs its own permits. Farragut uses MyGovernmentOnline, Maryville uses its Engineering & Public Works right-of-way permit, and Sevierville uses an online Right of Way permit. Call the office listed above to confirm.

Official local sources

• City of Knoxville Parking Permit Application (PDF): Lists dumpsters as a type of work, the Outer District Project rate of $5 per day per space, the other rates, and the contact details.
• Knox County Engineering & Public Works: Right-of-Way: Requires a permit before right-of-way work and states the 30-day review.
• Town of Farragut Permitting Information: Says town permits go through MyGovernmentOnline and gives the Planning & Zoning contact.
• City of Maryville Right of Way Permit Application (PDF): The Engineering & Public Works right-of-way permit form.
• City of Sevierville Work in R-O-W Permit: Explains how to apply for the right-of-way permit and when a TDOT permit is also needed.
• City of Oak Ridge Code Title 17: Says refuse containers may not block streets or sidewalks.
• City of Alcoa Building and Codes: Codes office contact.

Need help choosing?

Call (865) 309-5305 with the project address, debris type, and preferred delivery date. Confirm the size, material rules, full price, and delivery window before booking.