Apply to put a skip on a public road or pavement

Placing a skip on a public road or pavement - the law

• You must have an appropriate level of public liability insurance, currently £5 million.
• Your skip must not represent a danger to people using the road, cause unnecessary obstruction to the free flow of traffic (vehicle and pedestrian), or conflict with other work or events. 
• Permits are issued subject to an assessment of the planned position, skip dimensions, visibility to traffic, care and disposal of skip contents, lighting, security and the skip's removal.

Find out more information about scaffolding licences in The Highways Act 1980 (sections 139 and 140).

Skip permit fees

Each permit costs £32 for the first 14 days and £24 each week after that (or part thereof).

If you do not get your permit before the skip is in place, it will cost you a £284 fine on top of the cost for the back dated permit.

The removal of a skip will cost £197.

Processing your application

Once we have approved your application you will be sent your skip permit.

If you have not heard from us after three working days, you have the right to act as though your application has been granted.

We may refuse your application or suggest an alternative location if the planned one is not acceptable. Please contact us to discuss an application refusal, or issues resulting from it.