Will a 20 yard bin fit on a single-car driveway in Vanier?

It depends on which of the two 20 yard shapes the company delivers and on your driveway's measurements. Typical outside dimensions on Ottawa bin companies' pages (typical, sizes vary by company): short and tall, about 11 to 12 ft long, 8 ft wide and 5.5 to 6 ft high; long and low, about 18 to 22 ft long, 8 ft wide and 3.5 to 4 ft high. Width, about 8 ft, is the one dimension that stays consistent from company to company.

Measure the width and length of the driveway before you book, and compare them with the exact outside dimensions of the bin the company would bring. Lengths for the same "20 yard" label differ by up to two times between companies, so the label alone does not tell you whether it fits.

Two more things to check on the spot. Bin companies ask for a level spot clear of overhead wires and branches. And the end of a driveway near the street can be City land: the City's right-of-way includes the accesses to driveways and the boulevard beside your property. geoOttawa shows the approximate line; for the exact spot, ask the City's ROW Permit Office. A bin on City land needs the City's Temporary Construction-related Encroachment (TCE) permit, which takes at least 10 business days to process.

If the driveway is short, ask whether the company's 20 yard bin is the short and tall shape. Company size guides point a single-room renovation such as a kitchen or bathroom to 14 to 20 yards, so a 14 yard bin, about 11 to 12 ft long and 4 to 5 ft high (typical, sizes vary by company), is another size to ask about.

Before you confirm the booking, get the outside dimensions of the specific bin in writing and measure the driveway against them.