Do you need a skip permit in Farnham?
Only if the skip stands on the public highway: the road, the pavement or a grass verge. In Surrey the county council is the highway authority, so the licence comes from Surrey County Council rather than Waverley Borough Council. A skip on your own drive or front garden needs no licence, and any skip company can deliver it there. The council asks for skips to go inside the property boundary where that's practical.
What a skip licence costs in Farnham
On the Surrey side of Farnham, a licence from Surrey County Council is £130 for a stay of up to 28 days. Your skip company applies and can expect it within 2 working days if the paperwork is complete. Renewal fees and registration rules are set out in the Surrey skip licence guide, and the skip permit guide explains permits generally.
Placing a skip on a Farnham street
Among the county's conditions, the ones most likely to shape where a Farnham skip goes are the protected 1m walkway needed if it's ever allowed on the pavement, the 30m gap from junctions, and keeping hydrants and manholes uncovered. The Surrey guide lists them all.
Farnham's town centre has been a conservation area since 1970, so it's worth describing where the skip needs to go when you ask for quotes.
Across the Hampshire border
Farnham borders Hampshire. For addresses on the Hampshire side, such as Aldershot or Bordon, the licence comes from Hampshire County Council instead, which only accepts applications from firms on its approved register. It costs £78.80 for the first week and £26 for each extra week, and needs at least 5 clear working days' notice. Searching by your full postcode shows the right council.
Recycling centres near Farnham
Farnham Community Recycling Centre at Bourne Mill (GU9 9PS) doesn't take construction or DIY waste, vans or trailers. It opens Monday to Wednesday 8am to 4pm and at weekends 9am to 4pm, and is closed on Thursdays and Fridays. For rubble, plasterboard and DIY waste, Surrey residents use:
- Witley Community Recycling Centre, Petworth Road, Witley (GU8 5QW): open weekdays 8am to 4pm and weekends 9am to 4pm, takes DIY waste, plasterboard, vans and trailers, with no booking needed.
- Guildford Community Recycling Centre, Moorfield Road, Slyfield Green (GU1 1RU): open Monday, Thursday and Friday 8am to 4pm and weekends 9am to 4pm, closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It takes DIY waste, plasterboard, vans and trailers, and is one of three Surrey centres that take household asbestos cement.
Both Witley and Guildford take a free small DIY load once every 7 days from Surrey residents, with charges above that; the Surrey guide has the full allowance and the van permit rules. Bring proof of address on your first visit to get a resident sticker for your car window.
Surrey residents can also book a visit to Hampshire recycling centres such as Aldershot or Farnborough, at £13.50 per visit paid when booking, but not in a van or with a large trailer, and DIY waste costs extra.
Bulky waste collection in Waverley
Waverley Borough Council's bulky collections are run on its behalf by a furniture reuse charity. It costs £49 for one item, £70 for two and £21 for each extra item, up to £196 for eight, with £10 extra for each upholstered item and 15% off for people on certain benefits. Book one to nine items online, or email for a quote for more, and have items outside by 7am on the day. It doesn't take hazardous waste such as paint or asbestos, very large items like sheds or pianos, vehicle parts, or black-bag rubbish.
Waverley moves to West Surrey Council
Waverley, and with it Farnham, is folded into West Surrey Council on 1 April 2027, after which skip licences on the town's Surrey roads come from the new council.
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 Farnham: common questions
Does Waverley Borough Council issue skip permits?
Not for skips. Waverley handles bulky collections, while the county council licenses skips on Farnham, Hale and Wrecclesham roads, with your skip company making the application. Driveway skips are exempt.
Can I take rubble to the Farnham tip?
No. Bourne Mill doesn't accept construction or DIY waste. Surrey residents can take small amounts to Witley or Guildford instead, free up to two 50-litre bags once a week.
How much is a skip licence in Farnham?
On the Surrey side, £130 covers up to 28 days and each extension costs the same. Over the border in Hampshire, it's £78.80 for the first week plus £26 a week after that.
Is Waverley's bulky collection cheaper than a skip?
For one to three household items, often yes, from £49 for one item. It won't take building waste, so renovation waste usually needs a skip.
Council details checked October 2026. Fees, opening times and booking rules can change, so confirm them with the council or your supplier.