Do you need a skip permit in Brighton and Hove?
Yes, if the skip goes on the public highway, such as the road or a parking bay. Brighton & Hove City Council is the highway authority and issues the licence. A skip that sits entirely on private land, such as a driveway or front garden, needs no licence.
Putting a skip on the highway without permission is against the law. The council can remove unlicensed items and prosecute whoever is responsible. Anyone can check whether a skip is licensed on the national street works map the council refers to.
What a skip licence costs in Brighton and Hove
The council's highway licence fees for the 2026/27 financial year are:
- Standard skip: £15.40 for 1 day, £48.40 for 7 days, £89.10 for 28 days
- Large skip: £48.40 for 1 day, £89.10 for 7 days, £174.90 for 28 days
- Retrospective application: £100
The council asks for at least 3 days' notice for every skip licence, so the 1 day rate still needs booking ahead. Only specialist skip companies can take out a licence, not householders. Applicants need at least £10 million of public liability insurance and apply through the council's online highway licensing system. If you are hiring a skip, check that your supplier holds the licence before the skip arrives. Our skip permit guide explains how licences work across the UK.
Parking bays and controlled parking zones
If the skip will stand in a parking bay or a controlled parking zone, a parking bay suspension is needed first. The council will not issue the skip licence until the suspension is in place, so allow time for both.
Council rules for a skip on the road
- The skip must stand with its long sides parallel to the edge of the road, as close to the edge as is reasonably practical.
- It must not block drainage, manholes or utility equipment, or block access to a property without the occupier's agreement.
- Where there are several skips, they should be grouped as close together as possible.
- The ends facing traffic must be painted yellow and carry the reflective markings required by law, kept clean and visible.
- The skip owner's name and a 24-hour contact number must be shown on the skip.
- Skips must be lit during darkness with lamps that meet the British Standard for traffic control equipment.
- Containers more than 5 metres long or 2 metres wide need extra fluorescent markings and must not have dark blue or black sides.
- No flammable, explosive, dangerous or rotting waste, and nothing may spill or blow out onto the highway.
- Sand, soil, gravel and other loose material must be bagged or contained. The council can charge the licence holder for clearing blocked drains.
- A full skip must be removed as soon as practical, and within 2 working days of being filled. It must not stay on the highway after the licence ends.
Skip bags, such as builder's bags left on the street, fall under the council's separate materials and plant licence rather than the skip licence.
Recycling centres near Brighton and Hove
The council runs two household waste recycling sites for city residents:
- Hove recycling site, off Old Shoreham Road, BN3 7AE, between Aldrington Avenue and Leighton Road. Open Monday to Friday 8am to 4.30pm, Saturday 8.30am to 1.30pm and Sunday 10.30am to 1.30pm. Closed on bank holidays. Trailers up to 1.2 metres long are allowed, and pedestrians can use the site.
- Brighton recycling site, Whitehawk, off Wilson Avenue, BN2 5PA. Open Monday to Friday 8am to 4.30pm, and 9am to 5pm at weekends and on bank holidays. No trailers and no pedestrians at any time.
You may be asked for photo ID and proof that you live in the city dated within the last three months, such as a Council Tax bill or utility bill. Van drivers need proof of a city address and two forms of ID, and a hired van needs its rental agreement. Vehicles of 3,500kg or more, Luton and box vans, tippers, flatbeds and dropsides, and vehicles with business names are not allowed. The gates can close up to 45 minutes before the published closing time.
DIY waste limits are tight. Each household can bring up to eight rubble bags a month, each no bigger than 50 litres, and up to four sheets of plasterboard. Bonded asbestos is taken at the Hove site only, up to 4 bags, double-wrapped in plastic, with photo ID and proof of address. Waste from a builder or any other trade is not accepted, even if it comes from a home. For a bigger clear-out or a building job, a skip is usually the practical answer.
Bulky waste collection in Brighton and Hove
Brighton & Hove City Council collects large household items from your home for a charge. It takes furniture such as beds, mattresses, sofas, armchairs, wardrobes, chests of drawers, tables and chairs, as well as doors, TVs and monitors, bagged waste, and white goods such as washing machines, cookers, dishwashers and fridge freezers. There is a minimum charge covering up to three items, a set price for each extra item and a separate price per item for white goods. We have not quoted the prices because the council page shows no date for them, so check the current charge when you book.
Bookings are taken by phone only, on weekday mornings from 9.30am to 1.30pm, and you pay by debit card on the call. Collection slots are usually one to two weeks ahead and can take longer at busy times. Leave items where the crew can reach them on your drive or in your garden, or just inside the front door if you have no outside space. Never put them on the pavement or road: the council treats that as fly-tipping, with a possible £400 fine. Cookers, washing machines and dishwashers must be fully disconnected. If the items don't match what you described, the crew can give a new quote or refuse to take them.
The council will not collect building waste from traders or building firms, so for renovation or building waste a skip is usually the practical route.
Choosing a size
For heavy waste like soil or rubble, most suppliers limit you to a smaller skip, often 6 yards or less, because weight rather than volume is the limit. The size guide works it out from what you are clearing.
Skip hire in Brighton and Hove: common questions
How much is a skip licence in Brighton and Hove?
For 2026/27 a standard skip costs £15.40 for a day, £48.40 for a week or £89.10 for 28 days. Large skips cost more, and a retrospective application costs £100.
How much notice does the council need?
At least 3 days for a skip licence. If the skip will go in a parking bay, the bay suspension has to be arranged first, so allow extra time.
Can I apply for the skip licence myself?
No. Brighton & Hove City Council only licenses specialist skip companies with £10 million of public liability insurance, so your supplier applies. Check they have the licence before delivery.
Can I take building rubble to the tip instead?
Only in small amounts. Residents can bring up to eight 50-litre rubble bags a month and four sheets of plasterboard, and trade waste is refused. Larger loads need a skip or a registered waste carrier.
Council details checked October 2026. Fees, opening times and booking rules can change, so confirm them with the council or your supplier.