A builder’s skip on the public highway must be covered by a permit.
The skip company you use will apply for the licence on your behalf.
The current permit charge is £55.62 for 14 days.
You should ask to see the hire company’s permit or to contact the council to confirm that a permit has been granted.
Conditions of approval - Highways Act 1980 (Section 139)
A builder’s skip shall not be deposited on a highway without the permission of the highway authority.
Permission may be granted after an application by the skip owner or operator subject to certain conditions such as:
- Where there are no reasonable means of siting the skip off the highway
- The skip’s dimensions
- The manner in which the skip is to be coated with paint and other material for the purpose of making it immediately visible to oncoming traffic
- The care and disposal of the skip’s contents
- The manner in which the skip is to be lighted or guarded
- The removal of the skip at the end of the period of permission
- Payment of the appropriate fee
If a builder’s skip is deposited on a highway without a permission granted under this section, the owner of the skip is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine.
Where a builder’s skip has been deposited on a highway in accordance with a permission granted under this section, the owner of the skip shall ensure:
- That the skip is properly lighted during the hours of darkness [and, where regulations made by the Secretary of State under this section require it to be marked in accordance with the regulations (whether with reflecting or fluorescent material or otherwise), that is so marked]
- The skip is clearly and indelibly marked with the owner’s name and 24 hour emergency contact telephone number
- The skip is moved as soon as practicable after it has been filled
- That each of the conditions subject to which that permission was granted is complied with
You must indemnify the highway authority against all claims, however caused, or arising from or attributable to, the placing of the skip and other works to be carried out, and you should insure in respect of liability imposed by the conditions.
A copy of the relevant insurer’s certificate must be enclosed.
Skips must not be placed:
- on blind corners
- near give way junctions
- in bus stops
- on double yellow lines
- in school crossing patrol zones
- on grass verges
Any skips not complying with the above or on the highway without a permit will be removed and the costs will be recovered from the owner.
Skip contents
Skips placed on the highway must not contain any flammable, explosive, toxic or other dangerous materials or anything which is likely to cause a danger to road users or members of the public.
Emptying skips
All materials placed in skips must be properly disposed of.
Full skips must be removed immediately from the public highway or at the discretion of the highway authority.