City of Milwaukee
The City of Milwaukee requires a permit from the Development Center (809 N. Broadway, 414-286-8211) before a container is placed in the public way. The City's placement sheet requires a 60-foot setback from a cross street, 20 feet from an alley, no more than 8 feet into the roadway, a Type I barricade with a flashing light, and no placement on streets or alleys open to traffic from December 1 to March 1. Public-way occupancy fees depend on the space taken and the number of days.
Source: City of Milwaukee, "Dumpsters in the Public Way". The sheet is written for dumpsters; confirm with the Development Center for a portable toilet.
Wauwatosa
Wauwatosa's Storage in the Right-of-Way permit explicitly lists portable toilets. It costs $75 and covers up to 7 continuous days in the street or grass terrace. Apply through the city's online self-service portal or call Engineering at (414) 479-8927. Source: City of Wauwatosa.
Shorewood
Shorewood requires an Application to Obstruct the Public Way: $75 general, $75–$100 for storage units, and $150–$250 for lane or street closures. Insurance and barricade proof must be filed before placement. Source: Village of Shorewood.
South Milwaukee
South Milwaukee's Street Obstruction Permit costs $50 and covers any obstruction in the right-of-way; corners must be marked with flashing barricades. Source: City of South Milwaukee.
Other suburbs
We could not find published right-of-way pages for West Allis or the City of Waukesha. Call the city engineering office before using the street. In every city we serve, a unit on your driveway, lawn or private lot needs no permit.
| City | Street permit | Fee | Winter rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | Public-way occupancy (Development Center) | Varies by space and days | No open-street/alley placement Dec. 1–Mar. 1 |
| Wauwatosa | Storage in the ROW | $75 / up to 7 days | — |
| Shorewood | Obstruct the Public Way | $75–$100 (storage) | — |
| South Milwaukee | Street Obstruction Permit | $50 | — |
| West Allis, Waukesha | Call engineering | — | — |
Questions readers ask
Do you get the street permit for me?
In most cases you apply, because the permit is issued to the property owner or contractor. We tell you exactly where the unit will sit so the application is accurate.
What if I have no driveway?
Side yards, rear yards by an alley garage, or a neighbor's driveway usually work without a permit. Street placement is the last resort.
Is the terrace (grass by the curb) part of the street?
Yes. In Wauwatosa and most cities the terrace is public right-of-way.