Apply for a highway licence

If you want to occupy or open part of a public highway (carriageway, footpath, parking bay or verge), you need to apply for a relevant licence.

You should read the relevant conditions for the type of licence you need before completing the application form.

Occupy the road in connection with building work

Use the below forms for building work on the road. This includes:

• scaffolding
• building materials
• cranes
• hoarding
• mobile elevating platforms
• welfare cabins and huts

Applications

You can download and complete the:

• occupy the highway for building works application

• extend or renew an occupy the highway application

Conditions

There are conditions for each of the types of building work:

• place building materials or cabins on the highway
• erect hoarding or fencing on the highway
• erect scaffolding on the highway
• place a mobile elevating platform or truck mounted crane on the highway
• place a crane on the highway

Place a skip on the highway

Skips should be placed on property boundaries where possible.

If a skip needs to be put on a public highway, you will need a licence. If a skip is put on private land no licence is needed.

Read the conditions to place a skip on a highway.

Applications

You can download and complete the:

• skip on a highway application

• extend or renew a skip licence application

Place a structure over or under a highway

Placing a structure over or under a highway includes bridges, canopies, banners, wires and signs.

Read the conditions to place a structure over or under the highway.

Applications

You can download and complete the:

• place a structure over or under the highway application

• extend or renew a structure over the highway application

Tables and chairs licence

This includes placing tables and chairs on the highway for recreation or refreshment. We grant these licences annually.

Read the conditions for placing tables and chairs on a highway.

Application

You can download and complete the application to place tables and chairs on the highway.

Road opening licence

Any works on a public highway that break the surface of the road, footway or verge need the approval of the local highway authority.

You can find more information on our Section 50 licences page.

Site location plan

Make sure you include a site location plan in your application. This should show your equipment in relation to the property in a visual plan (photo, drawing or screenshot).

What happens next

Allow 5 working days for us to process your application. We will begin when we have received all of the relevant information.

Fees

To place a skip, building materials, welfare cabins or huts, mobile elevating platforms or truck mounted crane on the highway: £80.80

To erect hoarding or fencing or scaffolding on the highway: £80.80

To place a crane on the highway: £260.20

If you place your equipment on a highway without permission, the fees will be doubled for a retrospective application.