Fort Worth, Texas Waste Franchise & Dumpster Restriction Tracker

Fort Worth runs a “Grant of Privilege” (GOP) permitting program: private waste haulers must be city-permitted to operate, pay a $25 application fee, carry city-named insurance, and pay the City 10% of their gross hauling revenue every quarter — a fee the city applies broadly to hauling, roll-off rental, delivery, and surcharge revenue. American AF Dumpsters reports that, at signing, the city tried to collect the 10% fee for the previous six months retroactively. Because haulers can be permitted (rather than one company holding exclusive rights), Fort Worth is rated Restricted rather than Exclusive. The city’s own program documents are linked as sources.

County

Tarrant County

Population

Approx. 950,000 (needs verification)

Provider / franchise holder

Open to city-permitted haulers via the Grant of Privilege (GOP) program

Parent company

City of Fort Worth — Environmental Services / Solid Waste

Agreement type

Permitted-hauler “Grant of Privilege” program — haulers must be city-permitted and pay a 10% gross-hauling-revenue fee

Exclusive status

Approved hauler list

Franchise fee

10% — 10% of Gross Hauling Revenue generated within city limits, paid quarterly (within 30 days of each calendar quarter), plus a $25 application fee and specific insurance requirements (per the city’s Grant of Privilege program). The fee applies broadly — hauling, container rental, delivery, surcharges, inactivity fees, and bundled disposal. American AF Dumpsters reports the city also sought fees for the prior six months at the time of signing.

Freedom Index rating

🟡 Restricted

Roll-off dumpsters mentioned

Yes

Temporary waste mentioned

Yes

Self-haul exception

Needs verification

City authorization required

Yes — haulers must hold a city Grant of Privilege permit to operate in Fort Worth

The City of Fort Worth operates a “Grant of Privilege” (GOP) program that requires private waste haulers to be city-permitted to operate within city limits. Per the city’s own program materials (submitted to this database): haulers submit an application with a $25 fee, a certificate of insurance naming the City, and a vehicle list, and must pay the City a fee of ten percent (10%) of Gross Hauling Revenue generated within city limits, payable quarterly. The city’s Fee FAQ states the 10% applies broadly to hauling revenue, container rental fees, delivery fees, surcharges, inactivity fees, and disposal that is bundled with collection. This is a permitted-hauler (approved-list) model rather than a single exclusive franchise; the specific authorizing city code section should be confirmed.

Relevant location: Chapter Grant of Privilege program (Environmental Services / Solid Waste), Section Grant of Privilege permitting + fee provisions; exact city code chapter/section needs verification.

Code of Ordinances Municode

Fort Worth’s Grant of Privilege Agreement requires permitted haulers to pay 10% of gross hauling revenue quarterly and meet insurance and reporting requirements. American AF Dumpsters reports that, at signing, the city sought to collect fees for the previous six months — i.e., retroactively. The draft agreement and fee FAQ are linked as sources.

Construction dumpsters included: Yes.

Roll-off boxes and construction containers fall under the Grant of Privilege program; rental, delivery, and related fees on roll-offs are subject to the 10% fee per the city’s Fee FAQ.

• To operate in Fort Worth, a roll-off hauler must hold a city “Grant of Privilege” permit and pay 10% of gross hauling revenue quarterly, plus a $25 application fee and insurance requirements (per the city’s program documents).
• According to American AF Dumpsters, when the company went to sign the Grant of Privilege agreement, the City of Fort Worth sought to collect the 10% fee for the previous six months — a retroactive charge the company considered unreasonable.

Status: No known challenge

No known lawsuit or legal challenge at this time, according to available sources.

• City of Fort Worth — How to Become a Permitted Grant of Privilege Hauler (2024)OtherConfirmed by contract
• City of Fort Worth — Grant of Privilege Fee FAQ (FY25)OtherConfirmed by contract
• City of Fort Worth — Grant of Privilege Agreement (draft, hauler review copy)ContractConfirmed by contract
• Field report from American AF Dumpsters (retroactive 6-month fee at signing)Field reportField report only

Fort Worth is a permitted-hauler (approved-list) market via its Grant of Privilege program, not a single exclusive franchise. Program documents (How-To, Fee FAQ, draft agreement) are hosted as sources and contain no personal information. The retroactive six-month fee demand is American AF Dumpsters’ account.

Confidence level: Confirmed by contract · Verification status: Grant of Privilege program, 10% fee, and requirements confirmed from the city’s own program documents; retroactive-6-month detail is a field report.

Have a correction, a source document, or first-hand experience with dumpster rules in Fort Worth? Help us verify this record.