When do you need a skip permit?
On the highway
The road outside your house, a pavement, a grass verge or most unmarked parking areas. Some councils, such as York, also require a permit for skip bags on the road.
On private land
Your driveway, front garden, a yard, a private car park or a building site. There's no council notice period either, so delivery is usually quicker.
Wait and load means the lorry waits while you fill the skip and takes it straight away. In Manchester city centre it's the only option the council approves.
Who applies, and who issues it?
The skip company applies, not you. Many councils, including Surrey, Hampshire, Waltham Forest and Cardiff, only accept applications from skip firms on their register, which usually means holding public liability insurance and a waste carrier registration.
The permit comes from the highway authority for the address where the skip will stand:
- England and Wales: under section 139 of the Highways Act 1980. Unitary councils, metropolitan boroughs and London boroughs issue their own permits.
- Two-tier counties: the county council is the highway authority, so the permit comes from the county, not your district or borough. In Surrey and Hampshire, only registered skip companies can apply.
- Scotland: the council, as roads authority, gives written permission under section 85 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984.
The permit follows the address, not the postcode town. Earley and Woodley have Reading postcodes but come under Wokingham Borough Council, and Worcester Park is split between Sutton, Kingston upon Thames and Epsom and Ewell, and in the Epsom and Ewell part the permit comes from Surrey County Council. The supplier search matches your postcode to the right council, and our area pages cover local rules.
How much does a skip permit cost?
Each council sets its own fee and how long the permit lasts. Examples from council websites:
| Council | Fee | Covers | Notice needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | £44 | Up to 7 days | 10 days for restricted areas |
| Cardiff | £44 or £88 | 7 days or 28 days | 1 working day |
| Glasgow | £55 first week, then £36.75 a week (city centre £92, then £49) | Weekly | Allow 28 working days |
| York | £76 (£132 with under 3 days' notice) | Up to 14 days | 3 working days |
| Hampshire | £78.80 first week, then £26 a week | Weekly, no extensions | 5 clear working days |
| Surrey | £130 | Up to 28 days | Issued within 2 working days |
| Waltham Forest | £155 | Up to 14 days | 2 working days (allow 5 to process) |
Some skip firms include the permit in their price and some add it afterwards. Ask which, and whether a parking bay suspension is extra: many councils charge separately when a skip takes up a pay and display or residents' bay.
How long does a permit take?
From one working day in Cardiff to 28 working days in Glasgow, where traffic and pedestrian management is also required when a skip goes on the road. Most English councils we checked ask for two to five working days, but Manchester needs 10 days' notice for restricted areas. Waiting for the permit is the most common reason a skip arrives later than planned, so book early, and if the date matters and the skip can go on your drive, put it there.
Permits also run out. Manchester's lasts up to 7 days and Hampshire doesn't offer extensions, so ask for the full hire period up front. If you need the skip longer, the skip firm has to renew the permit before it ends.
Skip permit rules: lights, markings and size
These are legal duties on the skip owner under section 139 of the Highways Act 1980, plus whatever conditions the council adds:
Lit at night The law
The skip must be lit during the hours of darkness. Surrey, for example, requires four yellow lamps, one on each corner.
Reflective markings The law
Red and yellow reflective plates on each end, as set by the Builders' Skips (Markings) Regulations 1984.
Owner's details The law
The skip must show the owner's name and telephone number or address.
Removed once full The law
It must be removed as soon as practicable after it's filled. Surrey and Hampshire say within 2 working days.
Size limits Council
Surrey and Hampshire cap skips on the road at 5 m long and 2 m wide. Waltham Forest also caps the volume at 6.12 m³, about an 8 yard skip.
Cones and footways Council
York requires cones around the skip and doesn't allow skips on footways except in exceptional cases.
What happens if a skip has no permit?
The skip owner is normally the one prosecuted, but the law also allows action against anyone whose act or default caused the offence, for example by moving the skip or taking its lights away. Councils such as Manchester can also remove a skip placed without approval and recover the cost.
Questions to ask your skip company
- Is the permit included in your price, or charged on top?
- How much notice does my council need, and when can you deliver?
- How long does the permit last, and what does a renewal cost?
- Will my street need a parking bay suspension?
- Are you registered with my council to place skips on the road?
- Can the size I need go on the road here?
Skip permit questions
Do I need a permit for a skip on my driveway?
No. A skip entirely on your own driveway or other private land doesn't need a council permit. You only need one if any part of the skip is on the road, pavement or verge.
Who applies for a skip permit?
The skip company. The permit is issued to the skip owner, who is responsible for meeting its conditions, and many councils only accept applications from registered skip firms.
How much is a skip permit?
Council fees vary widely, from £17 for 15 days in Sheffield to £155 for up to 14 days in Waltham Forest. Other examples include £44 for up to 7 days in Manchester, £76 for up to 14 days in York and £130 for up to 28 days in Surrey.
How long does it take to get a skip permit?
It depends on the council, from one working day in Cardiff to 28 working days in Glasgow. Most English councils we checked ask for two to five working days, but Manchester needs 10 days' notice for restricted areas.
What are the fines for a skip without a permit?
Placing a skip on the highway without permission, or breaking the lighting, marking or removal rules, is an offence with a fine of up to £1,000. Some councils also issue penalty charges, such as £275 in York, and can remove the skip.
Not sure what size to order? Use our skip size guide, or read how skip hire works.
Prices and council fees in this guide are examples taken from published price lists and council websites. They change and vary by area, so always confirm the cost with the supplier before you book.