Tearing Down a Shed, Carport or Tiki Hut in Miami? Here Is the Dumpster You Need for the Old Wood and Metal
Published October 31, 2026 · Updated October 31, 2026
Tearing down a single shed, carport, tiki hut or old wood deck fits a 20-yard dumpster for almost every Miami backyard; clearing two or three structures at once, or a pole-barn-size carport with a slab, usually needs a 30-yard. Tell us what's coming down and whether the roof is metal, wood shingle or thatch, and we size it before the crew shows up.
What size dumpster do I need to tear down a shed or carport?
It comes down to how many structures are coming down and what they're built from, not square footage alone. A single wood or resin storage shed, even a 10x12, breaks down into light framing and panels that a 20 yard swallows easily. A metal or aluminum carport adds more material by weight than volume: the frame and roof panels are awkward to stack, but they're not heavy like concrete. A backyard with a shed, an old wood deck, and a collapsing tiki hut coming down together, or a pole-barn-style carport poured on a slab, is where a 30 yard or a scheduled swap-out earns its keep.
| Structure | Size | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Single wood or resin storage shed | 20 yard | Light framing and panels, low weight |
| Aluminum or metal carport (no slab) | 20 yard | Bulky panels, but still light |
| Chickee-style tiki hut (wood frame, thatch roof) | 20 yard | Wood and palm thatch, low density |
| Old wood deck demolition | 20 yard | Framing and decking, moderate volume |
| Shed, deck and carport cleared together | 30 yard or swap-out | Multiple structures add up fast |
| Carport or shed on a poured concrete slab | 30 yard, sized for weight | Broken slab concrete is dense |
Why a storm-damaged structure weighs more than it looks
After a named storm or even a hard squall line, a lot of these calls come from a shed roof that's partly peeled back or a carport that's folded over, not a planned teardown. Waterlogged wood, wet insulation panels, and soil or roof gravel that washed into a collapsed structure all add weight that wasn't there when the thing was built. If the structure has been sitting damaged for more than a few days, especially through a rainy stretch, size up rather than guess low: a 20 yard that would have handled the dry version of the same shed can fill faster once everything inside it is soaked.
Wood, metal, and thatch can go in the same dumpster
Shed framing, deck boards, aluminum or steel carport panels, and a tiki hut's wood poles and palm thatch all go into the same container; we don't require you to separate structure types by material. What we ask you to keep out: any propane tanks, gas cans, or chemicals that were stored inside the shed, and batteries from anything powered. If the shed had a concrete floor or footings poured under the carport posts, that concrete counts toward the load's weight the same way foundation concrete does on any demo job, so mention it when you book.
Getting the dumpster into a fenced backyard
Most sheds, tiki huts, and carports sit behind a fence or gate, not on the driveway where the dumpster has to land. If the only way in is a side gate, measure it: our containers need roughly 7 to 8 feet of clear width to roll through on a dolly, and anything narrower means the debris gets carried or wheeled out to the driveway in loads instead. Tell us the gate width and whether there's a fence post or AC unit in the path when you book, and we'll tell you honestly whether that structure's debris is coming to the container or the container needs to sit on the street side instead.
Do I need a permit to tear down a shed or carport in Miami-Dade?
Most permitted accessory structures, sheds over a certain size, carports, and anything built on a slab, need a demolition permit from the county or your city before they come down, separate from anything related to the dumpster. A dumpster sitting on your own driveway or in your own yard doesn't need a right-of-way permit; see our dumpster permit guide for when that one applies. Check with your building department before the crew starts if you're not sure the shed was ever permitted in the first place; older sheds and carports in Miami-Dade often predate current permitting and that can affect how the demolition gets closed out.
FAQ
What size dumpster do I need for a single shed?
A 20 yard handles almost any single wood, resin, or metal shed, even a large 10x12 or 10x16, with room to spare.
Can a tiki hut or chickee-style structure go in a dumpster?
Yes. The wood frame and palm thatch roof go in like any other demolition debris; a 20 yard covers a typical backyard tiki hut on its own.
Do metal carports and wood framing go in the same container?
Yes, aluminum or steel carport panels, wood shed framing, and deck lumber can all go into the same dumpster. We only ask that propane tanks, fuel, and batteries stay out.
Does a storm-damaged shed need a bigger dumpster than a planned teardown?
Often, yes. Waterlogged wood and debris that washed into a collapsed structure add weight fast; if it's been damaged for more than a few days, size up rather than guess at the dry weight.
Do I need a permit to tear down a shed or carport in Miami-Dade?
Most permitted accessory structures do, separate from any dumpster permit. The dumpster itself doesn't need a permit if it stays on your own property.
Can the dumpster go through a side gate into the backyard?
If the gate has at least 7 to 8 feet of clear width, usually. Tell us the gate width when you book and we'll size the job and the placement honestly.
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Call or text a photo of your junk to (305) 986-0692. We estimate it straight, you decide.
