Skip Permits in 2025: Costs, Rules & How to Apply

Whether you’re clearing out clutter from your home or taking on a new DIY project, skip hire is an easy way to safely and legally dispose of your waste. However, you might be put off by the need for a skip permit under the mistaken assumption that the application process is long and complicated.

Here at Woodford Recycling, we want to demystify the process and help you better understand what skip permits are and how much they cost; that’s why we’ve written this guide to skip permits.

How much does a skip permit cost in 2025?

The price of a skip permit is set by your local council and can vary depending on your location. Certain councils will charge more than others, especially those in more densely populated areas, and prices usually range anywhere between £20 and £100.

Here at Woodford Recycling, we primarily deal with two main councils: Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council. As skip permit prices can vary depending on your location, please get in touch with our team and we can give you a personalised quote. It’s important to bear in mind that extra fees may apply if the skip will be placed on a metered parking bay, a wait and load bay or a city centre road.

What is a skip permit?

A skip permit is essentially a licence that grants you permission to place a skip on a public road. It is granted by your local council and essentially ensures that the skip won’t be creating a safety hazard or violating any regulations.

When do I need a skip permit?

If you’re placing a skip on your own land, such as on your driveway or in your front garden, then the good news is you won’t need a skip permit at all. 

However, some properties just don’t have the outdoor space to accommodate a skip, meaning it will need to be placed on the road. Putting a skip on any kind of public land will require a skip permit; this is so the local council can control the traffic in the area – if there are too many skips on one road at any given time, it could create disruption and safety issues.

How do I get a skip permit?

How you get a skip permit is up to you, but a competent and professional skip hire company will often be able to arrange a skip permit for you. This takes a lot of the pressure off you, as your chosen provider will have the necessary contacts and information to quickly make the right arrangements on your behalf – just make sure you let them know your skip will need to be on the road or pavement when placing your order.

Who issues skip permits?

Your geographical location will inform who issues skip permits in your area. At Woodford Recycling, we cover a number of areas, which means we liaise with a number of different councils depending on who the customer is and where they are based. As we’ve mentioned above, we typically deal with Peterborough City Council and Cambridgeshire County Council. This is the same across the country, where your area will be covered by a specific council.

How quickly can I get a permit?

clear, so we strive to offer next-day delivery on skips. However, if you require a skip permit, you’ll need to submit an application ahead of time. Depending on the council in question, it can take up to 10 working days for a skip permit to be granted, so be sure to factor this into your plans.

We’ll do our utmost to provide as swift a service as possible, but for those who can’t have a skip on their property but need a rapid response, our wait and load skip hire service negates the need for a skip permit altogether.

How long does a skip permit last?

A skip permit is usually valid for 14 days. If you think you’ll need your skip for longer than that then you can apply for an extension, but this is subject to an additional fee – usually the same amount as the original permit.

Who applies for a skip permit?

This depends on where you’re located. In some areas, the person hiring the skip will have to apply for the skip permit themselves. You can find the application form on your local council’s website and you’ll need to submit details about your plans and pay the fee.

However, certain councils, like Cambridgeshire County Council will only issue skip permits to registered skip companies, meaning that we will have to handle the application on your behalf.

Skip permit rules

There are certain regulations that you’ll have to agree to follow before getting your skip permit, such as:

• The skip must not be placed over disabled parking bays, building entrances, single or double yellow lines, pavement or grass verges.
• The skip should not block any manholes or impede the road’s drainage in any way.
• The skip should not be left on the road for any longer than the agreed-upon time period.
• The skip must not contain any inflammable, explosive or dangerous materials.
• The skip should have safety lights and traffic cones on the side which traffic approaches.

You should also bear in mind that if the skip will be placed in a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ), you may also need to apply for a parking bay suspension, which will come at an additional cost.

What happens if I don’t get a skip permit?

If you have a skip on a public road without permission, then you can be subject to a fine of up to £1,000. Also, the council may immediately remove your skip without notice, so you’ll have paid for something that you never actually used.

How can Woodford Recycling help?

Here at Woodford Recycling, we supply domestic and commercial skips in a wide range of sizes to customers across Peterborough, Cambridge, Huntingdon and the surrounding area. As a licenced waste carrier, we can arrange a skip permit on your behalf to ensure a simple, straightforward process.

Not sure if you need a skip permit or not? Get in touch with our knowledgeable team today and we’ll talk you through everything you need to know.