Commercial Refuse Container Permits

A commercial refuse container is a container placed on the public roadways temporarily, the use of which is not related or connected to any use or activity for which a Department of Buildings (DOB) and/or construction activity permit from the Department of Transportation (DOT) is required.

No, the commercial refuse container permit does not carry parking privileges.

For approved applications, registered permittees should be able to obtain a commercial refuse container permit the same business day or by the next business day.

It is anticipated that the online application for commercial refuse container permits will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days week, except during periods of maintenance.
In addition to the online application, registered permittees will be able to apply for and obtain commercial refuse container permits in–person at one of DOT’s permit offices. The permit offices accept applications Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 11:30am, and there is one office in each borough. Find the location of the permit office in your borough.

Applicants will be notified at application submission if the requested location and/or dates are in conflict with a special event. In addition, advisories and construction embargoes are listed on DOT's traffic alerts page and at borough permit office locations.

A permit allows placement of a commercial refuse container at a specific location for up to five days. If a container is filled and needs to be exchanged for another container within the permit’s five-day timeframe, the carting company would not need to secure another permit. A second container added to the original location would require a separate permit.