Hillsborough County, FL · dumpster & demolition permits
Dumpster & Demolition Permit Rules in Hillsborough County, FL
Hillsborough County, FL says you need a permit to do construction, development or utility work in the county right-of-way, with a $50 base application fee and a ROW Use Permit for "all other work or activity" in the ROW. Residential sheds under 150 square feet need no building permit; over 150 they do. Read from Hillsborough County's own pages on 2026-09-19.
5.0 · 119 Google reviews · Davenport & Polk County
Hillsborough County puts its permit rules on plain web pages under Development Services, and it is the one county in this set whose right-of-way permit is written broadly enough to name "all other work or activity" in the county right-of-way, and to say homeowners can apply. It also says clearly that it doesn't issue permits inside Tampa, Plant City or Temple Terrace.
The tables quote those pages, the county's exempt-work list, its residential demolition and accessory structure checklists and its tree FAQ. The gaps are listed at the end.
Every rule on this page was read from the authority's own page and carries its source and the date it was checked, most recently . Anything the authority doesn't state is left out rather than guessed. Rules change; the sources are linked at the bottom.
Can a dumpster sit in the street in Hillsborough County?
The county's Right of Way (ROW) Management Permit, as the county describes it.
| Rule | What the authority says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| When you need one | To do construction, development or utility work in the County's Right-of-Way (ROW), you need a permit. | Hillsborough County: Apply for a Right of Way (ROW) Management Permit (2026-09-19) |
| Two kinds of ROW permit | Driveway Access permit application, for commercial and residential site access or driveway connections. ROW Use Permit Other Uses, for all other work or activity in the County ROW. | Hillsborough County: Apply for a Right of Way (ROW) Management Permit (2026-09-19) |
| Fee | Base application fee: $50 per permit. All fees are due upon application approval. The county's Right of Way Fee Schedule lists the rest. | Hillsborough County: Apply for a Right of Way (ROW) Management Permit (2026-09-19) |
| Who can apply | Homeowners as well as contractors can apply for ROW permits. Apply through the HillsGovHub portal. If you need to interrupt traffic, such as closing a lane or road, you must also apply for a Temporary Traffic Control permit. | Hillsborough County: Apply for a Right of Way (ROW) Management Permit (2026-09-19) |
| Not inside the cities | The county does not issue permits for projects within the municipalities of Tampa, Plant City or Temple Terrace. Make sure the address lies within unincorporated Hillsborough County. | Hillsborough County: Apply for a Right of Way (ROW) Management Permit (2026-09-19) |
| Contact | Development Services, rowpermits@hcfl.gov, (813) 272-5600. | Hillsborough County: Apply for a Right of Way (ROW) Management Permit (2026-09-19) |
When a shed or deck demolition needs a permit in Hillsborough County
From the county's Work Exempt from Permits page and its residential demolition and accessory structure checklists.
| Rule | What the authority says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Whole-structure demolition | The county's Residential Demolition checklist covers entire structure demolition. Apply online in HillsGovHub with a recorded Notice of Commencement before the first inspection, an Owner Builder Disclosure Statement if you are your own contractor, and a digital key site plan drawn to scale showing the whole parcel with the structure to be demolished clearly marked. | Hillsborough County HillsGovHub: Residential Demolition General Submission Requirements (2026-09-19) |
| Utility sign-offs for demolition | Upload the email response from Hillsborough County Public Utilities, an approval letter or email from Tampa Electric, one from the gas provider, and one from the phone or data provider. | Hillsborough County HillsGovHub: Residential Demolition General Submission Requirements (2026-09-19) |
| Sheds | No permit required: residential sheds and greenhouses less than 150 square feet. Permit required: residential accessory structures larger than 150 sq. ft., including sheds, gazebos and carports, applied for as a Residential Miscellaneous Permit in HillsGovHub with a scaled site plan showing setbacks and easements. | Hillsborough County: Work Exempt from Permits (2026-09-19); Hillsborough County HillsGovHub: Residential Accessory Structure Requirements (2026-09-19) |
| Fences and porches | No permit required for fences made out of PVC, wood, or chain link, but call the zoning department for all fences to check restrictions for your area. Permit required for electrical or concrete fences. All porches require a permit. | Hillsborough County: Work Exempt from Permits (2026-09-19) |
| Structural work is never minor | Cutting away of any wall, partition or portion thereof, and the removal or cutting of any structural beam or load-bearing support, require a permit. Painting, floor coverings, cabinet work, shelving, soffit and gutters do not. | Hillsborough County: Work Exempt from Permits (2026-09-19) |
| HB 803 exemption | Non-structural work on a single-family residence valued under $7,500 can be exempt, but an exemption application must still be submitted through HillsGovHub with the contract or other proof of scope and value. It does not apply if the work is $7,500 or more, the property is in a flood hazard area, or the work includes electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical or gas work. | Hillsborough County: Work Exempt from Permits (2026-09-19) |
| If it isn't on the list | If your project or repair is not in the county's exempt list, it most likely requires a permit; check with Development Services if you have questions. | Hillsborough County: Work Exempt from Permits (2026-09-19) |
Trees and who to ask in Hillsborough County
| Rule | What the authority says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tree removal | Generally, all trees on developed residential lots with tree trunks measuring 12" DBH (diameter at breast height, 4.5 feet above ground) or larger require a permit before being removed. For non-residential properties, trees with trunks greater than 5" DBH require a permit. All street trees also require a permit. | Hillsborough County: Development Services FAQs (2026-09-19) |
| Tree exemptions | Trees determined to be hazardous by a certified arborist do not require a permit for removal. Under FS 163.045 a dangerous tree can be removed without a local permit when the owner has documentation from an ISA Certified Arborist or a Florida landscape architect based on an onsite risk assessment. | Hillsborough County: Development Services FAQs (2026-09-19) |
| Trees and a new shed | Trees larger than 12" in diameter at chest height require a permit for removal; you can apply for the removal within the same HillsGovHub application as the garage, carport or shed. The accessory structure site plan must list any trees being removed with species, location, count and trunk diameter. | Hillsborough County: Development Services FAQs (2026-09-19); Hillsborough County HillsGovHub: Residential Accessory Structure Requirements (2026-09-19) |
| Pruning | No permit is required to trim, cut or prune your trees, but twenty-five percent (25%) of canopy is the maximum allowed in a growing season. Public Works maintains 14 feet of clearance over county-maintained roads. | Hillsborough County: Development Services FAQs (2026-09-19) |
| Development Services | (813) 272-5600 for permit exemption questions. Building and Construction Services: Permitting@HCFL.gov. Septic abandonment goes through the Department of Health at (813) 307-8059. | Hillsborough County: Work Exempt from Permits (2026-09-19); Hillsborough County HillsGovHub: Residential Demolition General Submission Requirements (2026-09-19) |
The honest comparison
When to skip the ROW permit in Hillsborough County and call Rob
Hillsborough is the one county here that plainly lets a homeowner apply for a right-of-way permit, $50 base fee and HillsGovHub paperwork included. Most people would rather not. Rob's dump trailer makes the question go away: it parks in a standard driveway, clears a normal gate, and never sits on county pavement. The 14-yard is $350 and the 16-yard is $400, both for 3 days with 2 tons of weight included.
On demolition, the county's own line is useful: sheds under 150 square feet don't need a building permit, PVC, wood and chain-link fences don't either, and cutting a load-bearing wall always does. Rob takes down sheds, decks, fences and patios himself. When a job needs the county's demolition permit and its four utility sign-offs, a general contractor Rob partners with handles it, and the concrete goes out on partner dump trucks. 119 Google reviews, 5.0 stars, and he answers the phone.
Dump Trailer Rentals · Hillsborough County landfills and drop-offs · How pricing works
Questions
Hillsborough County questions
Can I put a dumpster in the street in Hillsborough County, FL?
The county says you need a permit to do construction, development or utility work in its right-of-way, and its ROW Use Permit Other Uses covers all other work or activity in the county ROW. Homeowners can apply through HillsGovHub, with a $50 base fee. The page doesn't name containers, so before you order one for the street, ask the building department and rowpermits@hcfl.gov.
Do I need a permit to demolish a shed in Hillsborough County, FL?
The county says residential sheds less than 150 square feet need no permit and sheds over 150 square feet do, and its demolition checklist is written for entire-structure demolition with utility sign-offs and a site plan. For a shed coming down, ask the building department at (813) 272-5600.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Hillsborough County, FL?
Generally yes when the trunk is 12 inches or larger at breast height on a developed residential lot, and for all street trees. Hazardous trees documented by a certified arborist are exempt, and pruning needs no permit up to 25 percent of the canopy in a growing season. For anything close to those lines, ask the building department.
Sources
- Hillsborough County: Apply for a Right of Way (ROW) Management Permit · verified
- Hillsborough County: Work Exempt from Permits · verified
- Hillsborough County HillsGovHub: Residential Demolition General Submission Requirements · verified
- Hillsborough County HillsGovHub: Residential Accessory Structure Requirements · verified
- Hillsborough County: Development Services FAQs · verified
Left out on purpose
- Whether a dumpster or dump trailer specifically needs the ROW Use Permit, and any placement, time or covering rule for one: the county's page names work or activity in the ROW without listing containers.
- Container rules on a private driveway: not stated.
- ROW permit fees beyond the $50 base fee, and demolition permit fees: the county's fee schedules were not read, so no other figure is quoted.
- Whether demolition of a shed, deck or fence alone needs a permit: the county's demolition checklist is for entire structure demolition and the exempt-work page describes building, not removing.
- Deck and pool permit rules: the exempt-work page names porches, fences and sheds; decks and pools are not on it.
- Tree removal permit fees and the exempt species list in Land Development Code Article 12.01: not read for this page.
Rather not wait on Hillsborough?
Call before noon and it's usually gone today. Or text a photo of the pile and Rob sends back a flat quote.
5.0 · 119 Google reviews · Hillsborough County, FL