Apply for a skip licence
On this page
You need a licence to put a builder's skip on a public road.
Types of waste deposited in skips include:
- Household waste
- Builders' waste
- Garden waste
- Roofing waste
- Rubble
The minimum period for a skip licence is five days. It is your responsibility to renew your licence in time.
Before you apply
You will need:
- Skip company details
- Size of skip
- Certificate of public liability insurance to the value of £5,000,000 that is valid for the duration of the proposed licence
If you plan to take up any part of a controlled parking space, you also need a bay suspension. You do not need to apply separately. See parking bay fees.
What we do not licence
We cannot issue skip licences for red routes. We can only issue a licence for side roads connected to red routes.
We do not licence roll-on, roll-off storage containers as they do not meet the Builders Skip (Markings) Regulations 1984.
They are bigger than the maximum measurements of a skip allowed on the highway in Wandsworth.
The maximum permitted skip size is 12 cubic yards (9.2 cubic metres). The use of a grab lorry is not permitted to empty the contents of a skip.
Read the full statutory terms and conditions.
Timescales
You must apply for a materials licence a minimum of five working days before you need the licence to start. This gives us time to process your application and provide warning notices to other residents.
The day of submission is not included in the notice period.
Your application must be received by 3pm on the day of submission for it to be accepted for that day. If your application is received after this time, it will be deemed as received the next working day. The start date will then change.
Licences are only valid for consecutive days.
Fees
Charges for this year are valid from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.
View skip licence fees.
Apply for a licence
You can apply for a skip licence online.
After you have applied
We will respond to your application within three working days. Once your skip licence is confirmed, you must submit payment within 24 hours.
A site meeting may be required before your licence is granted. This may affect the start date.
We will contact you to arrange a suitable time if a site meeting is necessary.
Make a payment
If your application is successful, you will be asked to complete payment. You can make a payment online.
If you do not make a payment within 24 hours of receiving the payment request, the licence will not be granted and we will offer you the next available start date.
Your licence will be sent via email within four working days after we have received your payment.
Renew
You can renew a licence online or by email.
Renew online
You can renew a licence online using the application form.
Renew by email
To renew by email, send the first page of the current licence to highwaylicences@wandsworth.gov.uk.
Timescales for renewals
If your licence is not renewed before its expiry date, you will need to pay for a new licence.
Renewal requests must be received by 3pm on the day of submission, three working days before the date of expiry.
Renewals will be counted as continuous rolling days and the appropriate tier rate will apply.