Skip to content
  1. Do it online
  2. Login
  3. Have your say
  4. My Durham

Find out which of our venues are closed for election work on 1 and 2 May 2025 on Disruption to services due to local elections.

Road or pavement obstructions


It is illegal to obstruct a road, verge or pavement without a licence.

Obstructions are objects which have been illegally put there or overhang a road or pavement.

If the obstruction is causing a danger, please call the police on 101 or 999.

Vehicles

If you think a vehicle:

Overhanging trees and hedges

Other obstructions

We are responsible for issuing licences to place skips, scaffolds, hoardings and building materials on a road. In most cases licences require that these items are placed so they do not cause an obstruction. In some cases, however, this is impossible, and not all obstructions will be classed as unauthorised.

We also have a policy that actively discourages placing goods and advertising on roads and pavements so they minimise the nuisance and danger they may cause.

  • report a non-vehicle obstruction
    • caravans
    • unauthorised builders skips
    • unauthorised scaffolding/hoardings
    • unauthorised building materials
    • unauthorised vendors or traders not trading from a vehicle
    • fallen trees
    • unauthorised structures
    • decorative stones and plant pots on a road verge
    • fencing on a road, verge or pavement
    • blocking a Public Right of Way

If something has been spilt then see our Spillages on roads page.



Share this page

Share this page on Facebook Share this page on Facebook Share this page on Twitter Share this page on Twitter