When you hire a skip and need to place it on the road (public highway), you may need a skip permit from your local council.
The variances in skip permit charges and regulations from council to council are massive – fighting for homogeneity of skip permit charges is something we are constantly doing via Skip Hire magazine – because the charges made are subject to interpretations of the Highways Act 1980: section 139 road traffic regulations act, 1984.
The easiest thing to do is call Topskips on freephone 0844 686 9342 (Mon-Fri 0800-1800) and our skip hire experts will happily advise you on skip permits in your area (even if you don’t order a skip from us!)
Alternatively, if you are reading this out of hours, you will need to check your local councils’ skip hire permit guidelines. If you are unsure which council you need to contact, use the “Find your Local Authority” tool on Direct.gov.uk.
Some councils – mostly in London and Scotland – require you to apply directly to them for a permit, whereas most of them require the application to be from the skip hire company itself. To save time, just give us a call on 0844 686 9342 or email us and we’ll tell you what you need. (Note: Some councils will charge you more if you need the permit within three days of your application).
Also, different councils have different expiry dates and it is worth checking when you apply so you can arrange a suitable collection date. If you are looking for long-term skip hire you will need to submit another application, and may be asked to pay a surcharge.
If your council is one that requires you to apply directly for a skip hire permit, you will need to learn how to apply. There is no standardised system – some councils need you to fill in a form on their website, others require a letter, and some allow you to obtain one by visiting their offices.
Sounds complicated? It is! Topskips can take care of it all for you – just give us a call on 0844 686 9342
To show you how completely differently skip permits and skip licenses are issued around the country, here are two examples:
Sheffield City Council
Cost £35
Duration 14 Days
Processing Time 3 Days
Cheltenham Borough Council
Cost £70
Duration 28 Days
Processing Time 5 Days
If you wish to place a builder’s skip on any part of the highway a permit is required from this Authority. Otherwise, you may be liable to prosecution and a fine.
Following application to the Council and subject to safety considerations, skip permits are issued to skip owners (suppliers) for permission to place a skip on the highway.
The skip owner (supplier) is responsible for obtaining the permit. It is not the householder’s or the builder’s (contractor) responsibility to obtain the highway permit. However, as a householder, you should verify that your skip supplier has the necessary permit before they deliver the skip.
The skip owner (supplier) also has the responsibility to ensure that skips are positioned on the highway in such a way that they do not cause an obstruction to other road users. The supplier is responsible for ensuring that all appropriate regulations are adhered to.
A licence can be valid for any period between 1 day and 14 days. For longer periods additional applications should be made. Only one skip will be allowed on site at any one time except in exceptional circumstances.
Whenever possible, skips should be placed on the carriageway. If permission is granted to place skips on a footway or grass verge, an agreed method of protecting the surface should be carried out by the skip owner or householder.
Skips placed on the carriageway require at least 4 traffic cones on the approach side to guide traffic past the skip.
During the hours of darkness, in poor daytime visibility and bad weather, road danger lamps (flashing amber) must be placed against or attached to each corner of the skip. If sited on the carriageway, a lamp should be placed between each cone.If the Council’s contractors are called out to lamp a skip or make it safe, a charge will follow.
Skips placed on the highway shall not contain any inflammable, explosive or noxious material, or anything which is likely to cause nuisance to highway users.
Contents of the skip shall be kept “damped-down”, or covered to prevent dust or spillage on the highway. The skip must not be overloaded and must be removed when full.
Remember, it is only the skip owner (supplier) who is responsible for obtaining the permit. It is not the householder’s or the builder’s (contractor) responsibility to obtain the highway permit.
To apply for a skip permit, the skip supplier should contact the Council at the above address by telephone, fax, e-mail or letter giving details of the proposed location of the skip and the dates that it will be located on the highway.
Skip companies wishing to apply for a permit to deposit a skip on the highway must first register with the Highway Authority before a permit application can be made.
Apply for a permit – You can complete the application form link to online form and post back to us with your payment, a copy of your Public Liability Insurance (minimum £5,000,000) and Waste Disposal Licence. Skips should not be placed on the highway until confirmation that the appropriate documentation and fee have been received and permit actually issued.
Highways Act – 1980 – Section 139
Regulations relating to the depositing of a builder’s skip on a highway
The Council in exercise of their powers, under Section 139 of the Highways Act 1980 hereby grant you leave to apply for permission to deposit a builder’s skip on a highway within its boundaries, subject to the provision that application is made and permission is granted through the Central Register procedure as detailed in the attached letter and subject to the conditions contained in the Schedule hereto.
Appendix 1
The markings must not be fitted to any lid and should only be fitted to a door where there is no alternative location on the end of the skip. Where a marking is fitted to a door, the door should be kept closed, unless loading is actually taking place. The painting and markings shall at all times be kept clean.
Your permit will last for a maximum of 4 weeks from the date of issue.
Skips must not be sited on a footpath.
Any complaints about the locations or safety of the skips should be reported instantly please use the contact details below and this will be dealt with accordingly.
See what we mean?