Once you’ve decided to get a skip and determined what size skip you need, the next step is to think about skip permits. Skip permits, also known as skip licences, give you permission to place a skip in a public area temporarily. They ensure that there aren’t too many skips in use in one place at a time, and they help prevent issues with access, traffic flow, and parking.
Skip permits are relatively easy to apply for and shouldn’t cost too much. The problem is that there’s a lot of variation on the rules and methods of obtaining your skip licence depending on where you are in the country.
To help you understand skip permits, we’ve put together this guide to working out whether you need a skip permit or licence, how much they cost, and how long they last. We’ll cover:
When do you need a skip permit or licence?
When placing your order for hiring a skip, we will ask you if a permit or licence is required. Whether you need a skip permit or not depends on where it will be located during the hire period.
For a skip on the road
If you plan to put a skip on any public area, which includes roads, you will need to acquire a skip hire permit or licence. If you do not have a skip permit, the skip you hire can be removed without notice and you may also be liable to a fine of up to £1000, depending on your local authority. You cannot put a skip on a public pavement, or anywhere in certain city centres.
If you want to check whether a skip on a road has permission to be there, many council websites will allow you to look up existing permits online.
For a skip on a private road or land
If you plan to put your skip on a private road or property that you own, such as in a driveway, yard, or field, you don’t need a permit. However, you may still need consent from a landlord depending on your contract, or anyone else who may use or access that part of the property, such as a neighbour.
It’s always polite to check with anyone who might be inconvenienced by your skip first. If you do, you may head off any potential issues that could lead to your skip being removed. You could offer them use of your skip during the hire period if they need convincing — just make sure they understand the rules for what to put in it first.
How much is a skip permit and how long does a skip permit last?
If you’re wondering how much it is for a skip permit, below is a rough guide to prices of council permits for skip bins from across the UK. The cost will vary according to your local authority, depending on factors such as the size of your borough and how long the hire period will be, but the average you will have to pay is around £30 (or £68 in London boroughs).
Alternatively, if your local authority is not included in this list, you can check skip prices by putting in your postcode at https://www.gov.uk/apply-skip-permit (England and Wales) or https://www.gov.uk/skip-licence-scotland (Scotland).
Please note that these figures are estimates only and subject to change.
| Barnet London Borough Council | £114.72 (4 weeks) |
| Birmingham City Council | £21 (1 week) |
| Brent Council | £56 (2 weeks) |
| Bromley Council | £38 (2 weeks) |
| Camden London Borough Council | £57.02 (2 weeks), £83.21 (4 weeks) |
| Coventry City Council | £50 (2 weeks) |
| Dundee City Council | £50 (1 day), £150 (1 month) |
| City of Edinburgh Council | £29 (1 week), £23 (per additional week) |
| Enfield Council | £75 (2 weeks) |
| Fife Council | £25 (1 week) |
| Glasgow City Council | £90 (1 week), £48 (per additional week) |
| London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham | £80 (1 month) |
| Hillingdon London Borough Council | £45 (1-2 weeks) |
| Hounslow London Borough Council | £89.20 (2 weeks) |
| Islington London Borough Council | £95 (1 month) |
| Leeds City Council | £16 (1 month) |
| Leicester City Council | £46 (1 week) |
| North Tyneside Council | £15 (per skip) |
| Renfrewshire Council | £53 (1 month) |
| Richmond Upon Thames Council | £75 (3 weeks) |
| Southwark London Borough Council | £81.60 (1 month) |
| Stoke-on-Trent City Council | £40 (2 weeks) |
| Sunderland City Council | £19 (28 days) |
| Waltham Forest Council | £25 (1 week) |
| Wandsworth London Borough Council | £37.60 (5 days) |
Skip permits tend to last between one and four weeks, although they vary from council to council. If you are organising the permit yourself, make sure you check that it covers the whole of your hire period. If you decide you need your skip for longer, permits can usually be renewed for an additional fee.
One thing to note is that the waiting time for a permit can take at least 4 working days and even longer during busy periods, and how quickly you receive yours depends on the efficiency of your local council. You need to make sure you have your permit in order before your skip arrives, so factor this time in when choosing your delivery and collection dates.
How to get a permit for a skip
Most councils allow or require the skip hire company to apply for the skip permit on your behalf, who will then include the cost of the licence in their price. So, normally you won’t need to do anything. But there are a few places in the UK that require the person hiring the skip to order the permit directly.
Check with your local authority to see what their skip permit process is and remember that our customer service team can help you with any questions or information you need.
When hiring a skip, the hire company also needs to make sure it follows safety guidelines if it is to be placed on a road or highway. Again, these rules vary by area, but may include the following:
- reflective markings
- traffic cones
- night-time safety lamps
- the name and telephone number of the skip hire company
These can all help prevent accidents and injury during the skip hire period. Again, not having the proper measures in place is illegal and can result in the local council removing your skip or charging a fine of up to £1000 — but, at SkipsAndBins.com, we can help make organising your skip a breeze. Simply decide whether you want to use our innovative pay as you go option or sign up to one of our low-cost contracts, and we’ll guide you through the rest of our simple process.
If you’re wondering whether you need a skip permit, or if you want to know how much it will cost you, this guide can help you find out the information you need. Remember to check the rules for your local authority before you hire your skip, and it’s unlikely you’ll run into any problems.
At SkipsAndBins.com, our mission is to make finding solutions to your waste as easy as possible. Looking for more advice? We offer a comprehensive range of helpful customer support information, including videos, FAQs, and guides, to help make your life easier.
We have a variety of size options available to suit every job. You can easily book a 240l, 360l, 660l, or 1100l wheelie bin; 8-yard or 12-yard skip; or 8-yard or 10-yard FEL, right here on our website without having to deal with any sales reps. Think a bespoke solution would be a better option for you? We can help you there too, so place an order or get in touch today.