Do you need a skip permit in Norwich?
Yes, if the skip will sit on the public highway, which includes the road, the pavement and the grass verge. In Norwich the licence comes from Norfolk County Council as the highway authority, not from Norwich City Council. A skip placed entirely on private property, such as your own drive, does not need a licence.
What a skip licence costs in Norfolk
Norfolk County Council charges £55.94 for the first 28 days, and the same again for each further 28 day renewal, under fees that took effect on 1 April 2026. A separate application is needed every time a skip is placed, so a second skip or a later swap is a new licence.
The skip company makes the application, not the householder. To apply it must upload:
- a public liability insurance policy with cover of at least £5 million
- its waste carrier's certificate
- a drawing or photo showing where the skip will go
The county council says that a company placing a skip on the highway without a licence will be told to remove it or apply straight away, and the police may be informed. The council does not publish a fixed processing time, so give your supplier as much notice as you can. Our skip permit guide explains how licences work across England.
Recycling centres near Norwich
Norfolk County Council runs two recycling centres for the city, and you must book a free 15 minute slot before taking waste to either one. Slots open up to a week ahead and you give the vehicle registration when booking.
- Norwich North Recycling Centre and Reuse Shop, Morse Road, Horsham St Faith, NR10 3JX. Open daily 9am to 4pm except Wednesdays. Takes household and DIY waste, plasterboard, garden waste, fridges, freezers and tyres. Do not park on Morse Road or at the junctions while construction work is under way.
- Norwich South Recycling Centre and Reuse Shop, Ipswich Road, NR4 6FA, off the A140 and A47 roundabout. Open daily 9am to 4pm except Wednesdays. Takes household and DIY waste, plasterboard, fridges and freezers.
Both sites open on bank holidays except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. People on foot must also book.
DIY waste and rubble
Each household gets a free DIY allowance of two 50 litre sacks or one item per visit, for up to four DIY visits in any four week period. No single item can be bigger than 200cm by 75cm by 70cm. Above that, the county council charges per 100 litres (two 50 litre bags) or per single item:
- rubble, soil and stones: £4.50
- timber: £4
- flat glass: £6
- unsorted DIY waste: £7
- plasterboard: £14, or £7 for a 50 litre half bag, and it must be kept separate
Sorted loads cost less than mixed ones, and staff decide how a load is charged. Work done by a paid tradesperson gets no free allowance. Asbestos is not accepted at any Norfolk recycling centre, so it needs a licensed specialist rather than a skip or the tip.
Bulky waste collection in Norwich
Norwich City Council collects large household items for a charge based on how many you book, from 1 to a maximum of 10 items. Its published prices start at £24.50 for one item, £31 for three and £54.50 for five, rising to £104.50 for ten.
The service is for households only, not businesses or landlords, and you book it online. There is no refund if you cancel or the items are not out when the crew arrives. The council will not collect bagged rubbish, builders' rubble, plasterboard, doors, windows, radiators, boilers, asbestos, garden waste, sheds, fitted wardrobes or tyres, so a refit or clearance with that kind of waste usually suits a skip or the recycling centre better.
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.
Heading out of the county? See skip hire in Cambridge.
Skip hire in Norwich: common questions
Who issues skip licences in Norwich?
Norfolk County Council, as the highway authority. Norwich City Council does not issue them, although it does run the city's bulky waste collections.
How much is a skip licence in Norwich?
£55.94 for the first 28 days, then £55.94 for each further 28 days, on the county council's fees from 1 April 2026. Your supplier usually includes this in its quote.
Can I take rubble to the Norwich recycling centres?
Yes, after booking. A small amount is free within the DIY allowance, and above that rubble, soil and stones cost £4.50 per 100 litres. Plasterboard must be separated and costs £14 per 100 litres.
Does Norwich City Council collect building waste?
No. Its bulky collection excludes builders' rubble, plasterboard, doors, windows, radiators and similar refit waste, so a skip is the usual answer for a renovation.
Council details checked October 2026. Fees, opening times and booking rules can change, so confirm them with the council or your supplier.