Renovation and Remodeling Dumpster Rental in California
California remodels mean two things for a container: the housing stock is old, and half the back gardens in the state are becoming an ADU.
This page covers what is specific to California. For container sizing, accepted and prohibited materials and how the rental works, see Home Renovation & Remodeling Dumpster.
ADU work is its own kind of job
California's accessory dwelling unit rules have turned garage conversions, back-garden units and additions into a large share of residential work, and they produce a particular debris profile: a garage strip-out, old framing, stucco cut-outs, a slab trench for services, then finish waste months later. That is two or three short rentals, not one long one.
Access is the catch. An ADU site is usually a back garden reached down a single driveway that also has to stay usable, which argues for a 10 or 20 yard placed tight and swapped, rather than a 30 that blocks the only way in. We would rather make two trips than leave you unable to park for a fortnight.
Pre-1978 housing changes what the box may take
A great deal of California housing predates 1978, and a renovation of it turns up the three usual suspects: lead paint on trim and windows, asbestos in popcorn ceilings, vinyl floor tile and its mastic, and asbestos in duct wrap and old lath systems. Any of those has to be handled and documented under its own rules and must not be shovelled into an open container.
The ordinary remodel waste around them is simple: cabinetry, countertops, drywall, flooring, carpet, trim, fixtures and packaging. Tell us the age of the house when you book. It does not change the container, but it changes what we tell you about keeping the load clean.
Diversion plans apply to alterations too
A CALGreen waste management plan is not only a new-build requirement. Many California cities apply it to alterations over a threshold and hold a refundable deposit against proof of diversion, so the weight tickets from a kitchen or whole-house remodel can be worth real money at the end of the job. We send them for every load.
If your permit sets a diversion rate, a quick separation plan beats a single mixed box. Cabinetry and clean lumber in one, drywall in another, metal set aside, cardboard flattened and kept dry - we will tell you which splits are worth doing for the facilities nearest your address and which are not.
Sizes we quote in California
Same containers statewide. The tonnage allowance behind them is set by the county facility that receives your load.
| Size | L × W × H | Included tons | Pickup loads | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 yard | 22′ × 8′ × 4.5′ | 3 - 4 | 6 - 8 | Roof tear-offs up to about 30 squares. Mid-size remodels. Garage cleanouts. |
| 30 yard | 22′ × 8′ × 6′ | 4 - 5 | 9 - 12 | Whole-home renovations, framing waste, mixed demolition debris. |
California questions
What size dumpster for a kitchen remodel?
A 10 or 20 yard. Cabinetry and countertops are bulky rather than heavy, so volume is the constraint unless you are taking up a tile floor set in mortar.
What size for an ADU or garage conversion?
Usually a 20 yard for the strip-out and a second short rental for finish waste. On a narrow driveway we will fit a 10 yard in and swap it rather than block your access with a bigger box.
My house is from the 1950s. Does that matter?
For what goes in the container, yes. Popcorn ceilings, vinyl floor tile and painted trim of that age can involve asbestos or lead, which are handled and documented separately and cannot go in an open roll-off.
Do I need diversion paperwork for a remodel?
Often, yes - many California cities apply CALGreen diversion to alterations and hold a deposit until you prove it. We send the facility weight ticket for every load, which is what the city checks.
Other debris types in California
Where we deliver in California
All 1,598 cities and communities, in every one of the 58 counties.
Get this container on site in California
Tell us the ZIP and the volume. We will confirm the size, the weight allowance and the delivery day.