Why You Are Probably Here
Most people calling us about a dumpster enclosure are calling for one of three reasons: the city cited you, a tenant or a neighbor complained, or you are building new and the plan reviewer flagged your trash area.
Whichever one it is, the fix is the same — screening that meets your municipality's code, and gates that still work in five years. That second part is where most enclosures fail.
Call 314-440-8873 and we will walk the site with you.
What Your City Actually Requires
There is no single St. Louis-area standard. Requirements are set municipality by municipality, and they vary on height, materials, setbacks, and whether the enclosure has to be finished to match your building.
What is consistent across most jurisdictions:
- The container has to be fully screened from the street and from adjoining properties
- Screening is commonly six feet — tall enough to hide a standard front-load bin
- Solid screening. Many municipalities will not accept open chain link on its own
- Gates that stay closed when nobody is servicing the container
- Some cities require the enclosure to be finished to match the primary building
We confirm your specific municipality's requirements before we quote. If a contractor gives you a number without asking what city the property is in, they are quoting you what they usually build — and you are the one who fails inspection, not them.
What We Build
Wood or composite on steel posts. The most common enclosure we build. Steel structural posts set in concrete, with wood or composite screening attached. It costs less than masonry, and when a truck clips a panel you replace a board instead of rebuilding a wall.
Masonry and CMU. Required in some jurisdictions and specified on most new commercial construction. Heavier, more permanent, and more expensive to repair when it gets hit.
Chain link with privacy slats. Where the code allows it — usually industrial zoning and back-of-house locations. The fastest and least expensive option.
Steel-framed gates on any of the above. This is not an upgrade we offer, it is how we build them. See below.
Where Enclosures Fail
The Gates Are What Fail
The screening is the easy part. The gates are what get hit by trucks, dragged open across gravel a thousand times, and left hanging off one hinge in year three. When a code officer comes back out, it is almost never because the panels failed. It is because the gates do not close.
So we build the gates as the structural piece, not the afterthought. Steel frame, welded, hung on steel posts set in concrete separate from the screening posts so the gate weight is not pulling on the panels. Heavy-duty hinges sized for the gate, a drop rod into a sleeve so it stays open for the hauler and stays closed the rest of the time, and cane bolts on the closed side. Wood or composite skin over the steel to match the enclosure.
That is not an upgrade. It is the only way we build them, because it is the difference between an enclosure that gets you through inspection once and one that stays out of the code officer’s file.
Bollards Are Not Optional
The installation process for residential chain link fencing is efficient and straightforward. Our skilled team ensures that each post is securely anchored and that the fence is properly tensioned, providing a stable and long-lasting structure. We adhere to all local building codes and safety regulations, ensuring that your chain link fence not only looks great but also functions effectively.
What We Need to Quote Your Enclosure
A dumpster enclosure is a fast quote if we have the right five things. Send us these and we will usually have a number to you the same day.
- Your address and the municipality. Requirements are set city by city, and the first thing we do is pull yours.
- The container size and how many. A 4-yard, a 6-yard, an 8-yard, or a roll-off all need a different footprint, and your hauler needs clearance to swing the doors and back the truck in.
- A photo of the spot, or a site plan if it is new construction. We want to see what is around it and how the truck gets to it.
- Whether the city has already been out. If you have a citation or a plan review comment, send it. It tells us exactly what they are looking for.
- Whether it has to match the building. Some jurisdictions require the enclosure be finished in the same material as the primary structure. That changes the answer from wood-on-steel to masonry, and the price with it.
Text photos and the address to 314-440-8873 or send them through the contact page. We walk the site before anything is priced.
We build dumpster enclosures across St. Louis and St. Charles County for property managers, restaurants, retail centers, churches, and general contractors on new commercial work. Same crew that builds our fences, no subcontractors, and the gates are welded steel every time. If the city has been out or the plan reviewer has flagged your trash area, call 314-440-8873 and we will get it handled.