Do you need a skip permit in Stockport?
Yes, if the skip will stand on any part of the highway, including the road, pavement or verge. Stockport Council is the highway authority and issues the licence, and placing a skip on the highway without one is an offence that can lead to prosecution. The licence covers the highway only, so a skip that sits entirely on your own drive or private land is outside it.
What a skip licence costs in Stockport
Stockport Council's fee depends on whether the skip company is registered with the council and whether it applied in advance.
- Registered company, applied in advance: £42.50 for up to 28 days.
- Registered company, applied retrospectively: £84.50 for up to 28 days.
- Unregistered company: £159 for up to 28 days.
Skip companies pay £149 a year to register. A licence runs for between 1 and 28 days, and a longer hire needs a further application. The skip owner applies by sending the council's application form to its highway licences team, so the householder does not apply. Because the unregistered and retrospective rates are much higher, it is worth asking a supplier whether they are registered with Stockport Council and whether the permit is in their price. Our skip permit guide explains how permits work.
Council rules for a skip on the road
- The skip owner must position the skip so it does not cause an obstruction.
- Only one skip is allowed on site at a time, except in exceptional circumstances.
- A licence lasts a maximum of 28 days, and each extra period needs a new application.
Recycling centres near Stockport
Stockport has three household waste recycling centres. They are free for residents of the nine Greater Manchester boroughs that share the service, and open 8am to 8pm every day except Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
- Adswood Road, Cheadle Hulme, SK8 5QY: accepts permitted vans under 5.3 metres and twin-axle trailers.
- Bredbury Parkway, Bredbury, SK6 2SN: also accepts pick-up trucks with a permit.
- Rose Hill, Railway Road, Marple, SK6 6HU: accepts permitted vans and twin-axle trailers.
The centres take rubble, bricks, tiles and soil from your own DIY projects, up to five sacks per visit. Waste from a builder or tradesperson you have hired is business waste and is not accepted. A van, pick-up, hire van or twin-axle trailer needs a free van permit, applied for online at least 2 working days before your first visit, with 18 visits per household each year from 1 April.
Bulky waste collection in Stockport
Stockport Council's published prices are £30 for one item, £50 for two and £80 for three to eight items. DIY and building waste is a separate service with a £150 minimum charge, plus £150 for each extra hour. Book online, choosing separate dates for electrical items, other items and soft furnishings, as they are collected on different days. A cancellation charge applies, and a discounted rate is available for residents on certain benefits.
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 Stockport: common questions
How much is a skip permit in Stockport?
For a company registered with Stockport Council and applying in advance, the licence costs £42.50 for up to 28 days. An unregistered company pays £159.
What if the skip company forgets to get a permit?
A registered company that applies after the skip is down pays the higher retrospective rate of £84.50, and placing a skip without a licence is an offence. Ask your supplier to confirm the licence before delivery.
Can I have two skips outside my house in Stockport?
Normally not. The council allows one skip on site at a time unless the circumstances are exceptional.
Is a skip cheaper than the council's DIY waste collection?
It can be. Stockport's DIY and building waste collection starts at £150 for the first hour, so compare that with skip prices for the size you need.
Council details checked October 2026. Fees, opening times and booking rules can change, so confirm them with the council or your supplier.