Licence

Skip licence (England and Wales)

You or the skip hire company need a skip licence/permit if you want to put a skip on a public road. You may need safety lights, traffic cones or markings

Apply for this licence

For example SW1A 2AA

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Contact your local council for a skip licence if you want to put a skip on a public road.

In most areas, skip hire companies are responsible for getting skip licences, also sometimes called skip permits. In some areas you’ll need to do it yourself.

You need a licence for:

  • skips
  • hippobags and other skip bags

Restrictions

You can’t put a skip on the pavement. You don’t need a skip licence if you’re putting the skip entirely on private land.

You may need to put safety lights and markings on or around the skip. This could include:

  • reflective markings
  • traffic cones
  • night-time safety lamps
  • the name and telephone number of the skip hire company

Contact your local council to find exact rules for lights and markings in your area.

Fines and penalties

If you don’t put up the required safety lights and markings, you could be fined up to £1,000.