On private property, such as a driveway or a fenced lot you control, New Castle does not require a permit. The moment the container touches a street, a sidewalk, or any other public property in the city, a permit comes first.
The city's dumpster rules put that permit in the hands of the Code Enforcement Department. There are two kinds. A common permit costs $10, runs 14 days, and renews for $5. A construction permit costs $20, runs up to six months, and renews for $10. Containers used for regular residential trash pickup, and the ones businesses keep on site, are exempt.
The rules also cover how the container has to look and where it can sit. It needs reflective or lighted markings on all four sides, and drivers have to be able to see it from 200 feet away. It has to stay clear of stop signs, crosswalks, fire hydrants, and railroad crossings by a set distance.
Code Enforcement works out of the Municipal Building at 230 N. Jefferson St. Call the city at 724-656-3500, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Your account manager can walk you through the application if you would rather not guess at which permit applies.