Yes, an urban planter box can be used to grow bamboo without it taking over, but only if you treat the planter as a real containment system rather than a decorative pot. The safest choice is a clumping bamboo, especially a compact or dwarf variety. Clumping bamboos spread slowly from the center and are much less likely than running bamboos to send rhizomes through seams, drainage holes, and cracks. Running bamboo should generally be avoided in a planter box unless the box is engineered with a continuous heavy-duty root barrier and you are prepared to inspect it regularly.
Choose a planter that is large enough for the species. A practical minimum for many clumping bamboos is 40 to 60 gallons, with enough width and depth for the root ball to mature. The box needs drainage, but every drainage hole should be covered with fine stainless-steel mesh or sturdy root-control fabric so rhizomes cannot escape. Line the sides and bottom with a 60 to 80 mil HDPE root barrier, overlap the seams well, and seal or clamp them according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Leave the barrier rim a few inches above the soil line so rhizomes cannot creep over the top.
Use a free-draining but moisture-retentive potting mix rather than garden soil, and place the planter where it gets the light the bamboo needs. Water regularly in summer, because bamboo in a box dries out faster than bamboo in the ground. Feed lightly during the growing season. Watch for roots or shoots appearing through drainage holes, along seams, or over the rim, and prune any escape immediately. In cold climates, consider root protection or move a movable planter to a sheltered spot.
In short, yes: an urban planter box can grow bamboo without it taking over if you use clumping bamboo, a robust container, a proper root barrier, mesh-covered drainage, and regular monitoring. If you want a low-risk screen with minimal inspection, keep the bamboo in a large pot inside the planter box or choose a non-invasive alternative. Avoid relying on a thin plastic liner or a small ornamental box, because bamboo can crack, escape, or become root-bound surprisingly quickly.