Replacing a Fence in Miami? Here Is the Dumpster You Need for the Old Posts, Panels and Footings
Published October 14, 2026 · Updated October 14, 2026
Most backyard fence tear-outs in Miami fill a 20-yard dumpster for up to about 150 linear feet of wood, PVC or aluminum fencing. A full-perimeter replacement on a corner lot, or any fence with poured concrete footings, usually needs a 30-yard or a scheduled swap-out. Book by linear footage and material, not just "a fence," and we size it right on the call.
What size dumpster do I need to remove a fence?
It depends on linear footage and material more than anything else. A single backyard run of wood, PVC, aluminum or chain link, under about 150 feet, is a 20 yard job almost every time: panels and rails are bulky but light, and they break down flat once they're off the posts. A full-perimeter job on a corner lot or an acre-plus property, common in areas like Palmetto Bay and Redland, runs past 200 feet of fence line and usually needs a 30 yard, or a 20 yard with a scheduled swap-out if the crew is pulling the whole yard in stages. The one thing that changes the math regardless of length is concrete: posts set in footings, or a block wall coming down instead of a fence, add weight fast even on a short run.
| Fence job | Size | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Backyard run, up to about 150 ft (wood, PVC or aluminum) | 20 yard | Panels and posts are bulky but light |
| Full-perimeter replacement, corner or large lot (200+ ft) | 30 yard | More linear footage to clear in one haul |
| Any fence with poured concrete footings | 20 yard, loaded partway | Concrete adds weight fast on a short run |
| Chain link with concrete-set posts | 20 yard, swap-out if long | Set posts are the heaviest part of the tear-out |
What actually fills the dumpster
- Wood panels and rails, often rotted or termite-damaged at the base, which is usually why the fence is coming down in the first place.
- PVC and vinyl panels and posts: lightweight but bulky, they eat up volume fast even though they weigh almost nothing.
- Aluminum and chain link fabric and rails: light by weight, awkward to stack flat, and they take up more room in the container than people expect.
- Wood or concrete fence posts, especially any set in concrete footings below grade. Those footings usually get broken out and go in with everything else.
- Gate hardware, hinges, and whatever old mailbox post or trellis comes down with the rest of the line.
Why a fence job is a volume problem, not a weight problem
A fence tear-out is nearly the opposite of a tile roof or a concrete driveway: it's a volume problem, not a weight problem. A 150-foot run of wood or PVC fencing fills a dumpster's footprint before it comes close to the truck's legal weight limit, so sizing is mostly about linear footage and how flat the material stacks once it's down. The one exception is concrete: posts set in footings, or a block wall coming down, behave like the dense debris in our guide to dumpster weight limits in Miami, and we size those by weight the same way we would a slab or a tile roof.
HOA rules and property line placement in Miami communities
Fences sit right on the property line, which is exactly where HOAs in communities like Pembroke Pines, Kendall and Miramar pay the closest attention. Most associations care less about the dumpster itself than where it sits: keep it on your own driveway, not blocking a sidewalk or your neighbor's side of the line, and coordinate delivery around any survey crew confirming the property line before the new posts go in. See our guide to HOA dumpster rentals in Miami for what associations actually flag versus what they don't.
Booking a fence tear-out and replacement
Time the delivery for right before the old fence comes down, not days ahead; a dumpster sitting empty in the driveway invites exactly the kind of HOA letter you're trying to avoid. For a full-perimeter job that takes more than a day or two, a scheduled swap-out keeps the crew moving instead of waiting on one container to fill and clear. Same-day delivery is available across Miami-Dade and Broward, no permit is needed if the container stays on your own driveway, and we're a family company based in Kendall, licensed and insured since 1993.
FAQ
What size dumpster do I need for a fence removal?
A 20 yard covers most single backyard runs up to about 150 linear feet of wood, PVC or aluminum fencing. A full-perimeter job on a corner or large lot past 200 feet usually needs a 30 yard, or a 20 yard with a scheduled swap-out.
Can concrete fence post footings go in a regular dumpster?
Yes, broken-out concrete footings go in a standard roll-off. Tell us when you book if the fence has concrete footings or a block wall is coming down, since that material is sized by weight, not volume, the same as a driveway or slab job.
Do I need a permit for a dumpster during a fence replacement in Miami?
No, not if the container sits on your own driveway. A permit is only needed if it has to go in the street or on the swale, which Miami-Dade treats as a right-of-way permit; we handle that if it comes up.
Does chain link or PVC fencing need a different size than wood?
Not usually. All three are light by weight and sized mainly by linear footage; chain link and PVC just take up more room per foot than wood panels because they don't stack as flat.
How long can I keep the dumpster while the new fence goes up?
As long as the job needs, within the rental period you book. Most single-run fence jobs clear in a day or two; full-perimeter jobs that run longer are better served by a scheduled swap-out so a full container doesn't sit waiting on the new posts.
Will my HOA have a problem with a dumpster during a fence replacement?
Usually not, if it stays on your own driveway and isn't delivered days before work starts. HOAs in communities like Pembroke Pines, Kendall and Miramar mainly flag containers blocking sidewalks, sitting on the swale, or parked for a week with nothing happening.
Get Your Free, No-Pressure Estimate
Call or text a photo of your junk to (305) 986-0692. We estimate it straight, you decide.
