In order to place a builder’s skip on the roadside you would be required to obtain a permit for each location from the Highway Authority.

The permit itself consists of two parts:

• Your Local County Council Standard Conditions
• Combined Application Form/Permit

Skip permits are granted for two weeks initially, they can be extended for a further two weeks free of charge but after this time a new permit will be required.

If a new permit is not acquired, a fine maybe issued by the local county council to the customer or owner of the skip.

If you are hiring a skip for your home or business and need to place it on the road you will need a skip permit from your local council. The requirements are laid out in the Highways Act 1980: section 139 road traffic regulations act, 1984.

First you will need to check your local council’s skip hire permit guidelines. If you are unsure which council you need to contact you may find the "Find your Local Authority" tool on Direct.gov.uk useful. A few councils - mostly in London and Scotland - require you to apply directly to them for a permit, whereas most of them require the application to be from the skip hire company itself. It is worth bearing in mind that some councils have a surcharge if you need the permit within three days of your application.

Another thing to consider is that different councils have different expiry dates, and it is worth checking when you apply, so you can arrange a suitable collection date. If you are considering long-term skip hire you will need to submit another application, and may be asked to pay a surcharge.