What you need to know about skip hire regulations, licences and permits

Before hiring a skip from a company like Able Skip Hire Ltd, it is vital to familiarise yourself with the relevant regulations that govern where a skip can be placed and how it can be used.

One of the most important things to know about hiring a skip is whether you will require a skip permit – also sometimes referred to as a skip licence. While you will not need to apply for a permit if the skip is only to be placed on your own private land, such as your driveway, you will require such a licence before you will be allowed to put it on any public road or pavement.

The basics of skip permits

Skip licences or permits tend to last for between one day and four weeks, and should be obtained as far in advance as possible of the date on which they will be needed. Some councils will charge additional fees for an application for short-notice skip use, such as less than three days.

As there is no central government system for skip permit applications, the application process differs from one council to the next. While some local councils use online forms, others will require you to make an in-person visit to a council building to complete your application.

Skip permits can vary greatly in cost up and down the country, with the average price being about £30. The good news is that when you hire your skip from Able Skip Hire Ltd, you won’t need to worry about adding the price of a permit to the cost of skip hire, as we will obtain the licence on your behalf, simply adding the council’s charge to the price that you pay us.

Our online quotation system even allows you to calculate the cost of the permit, so that you will have a good idea of the overall price that you will need to pay for skip hire before you even formally get in touch with us.

Skip hire also comes with safety and maintenance obligations

The skip’s upkeep is the responsibility of the person or business to which the permit is granted. Measures should be taken to ensure that the skip is not dangerous and that its contents are contained within the skip. Nor are you allowed to place any flammable, explosive or toxic materials in the skip, or anything that poses a risk of harm to drivers or pedestrians.

You may also be required to place safety lights or markings on or around the skip, which could include reflective markings, traffic cones, night-time safety lamps and/or the name and telephone number of the company from which you are hiring the skip.

Different councils have different rules for lights and markings, so it is important to find out which ones apply to your own locality – not least as failure to put up the right safety lights and markings could result in a fine of up to £1,000.

Once the skip has been removed, the road or other public land must be left in the same condition that it was in prior to the skip being placed there – otherwise, additional charges may again be applied.

Calculate your own quote for skip hire from Able Skip Hire Ltd using our simple-to-use online system right now, before getting in touch with us to book your skip.

Book Your Skip Hire below or Call 01772 622342

Delivering Skips throughout Lancashire

We are now able to offer a larger coverage area for Our services as we have established links with partner companies within the County who share Our ethos of Reliable Service, Affordability and a pro-active approach to Recycling. Please visit the Delivery Areas section of the site and use the Map to see if we can service your Location and obtain a quotation.

We deliver to:

Adlington, Blackburn, Chorley, Leyland, South Ribble, Preston, Bolton, Lostock, Wigan, Fylde