Skip licensing
We issue licences to skip companies to deposit skips on public highways.
New regulations
With the introduction of the new Traffic Management Act (TMA) a number of changes in the way in which licences are processed now apply. Please see Highways Licensing in Lambeth - changes from 1 July 2008 for more information.
Who can apply?
Only skip companies can obtain licences and all skip applications must be submitted by the skip company who intends to deposit the skip.
If you are hiring a skip, the skip company will complete the application, take payment for the licence fee, in addition to the fee for the hire of the skip, and deal with the skip licensing department on your behalf (they may make an additional charge to cover their administration for this).
If you are a skip company and intend to apply for licences on behalf of clients you will need to take note of the following information.
Any skip company wishing to be considered for the invoicing scheme should apply to: Skip Licensing, Environmental Services and Highways, Service Team House, 185-205 Shakespeare Road, London SE24 0PZ with their request submitted on company headed paper.
Payment
We currently operate a system whereby skip companies can either pay in advance for skip licences via debit / credit card or receive an invoice on a monthly basis detailing the details of all skip licences acquired within any given month.
Invoicing and skip contracts
In order to qualify for invoicing you will need to contact the skip licensing department and request a skip contract.
Your details will be taken and a contract will be sent for you to sign and return.
In addition to the contract details information of traffic sensitive and Transport for London roads and how customers should deal with skips that are to be deposited in parking bays will be enclosed.
Applying for a licence
Regardless of whether you decide to pay in advance or are invoiced monthly you will need to fill in an application form and fax it to the skip licensing department on 020 7926 0530. Alternatively, you can now make your application online.
Be aware that the notice period for applying for licences is 7 working days for traffic sensitive roads (see below) and 5 working days for non-traffic sensitive roads.
Where a skip is being placed in a parking bay, if the appropriate bay suspensions have not been applied for, this may delay the processing of an application. Please see our bay suspension application form.
Please note that applications may only be made by skip companies.
In order to find out whether a licence has been granted you will need to contact the skip licensing department on 020 7926 0524 who will provide you with the licence number.
Application fees
Application fees for skip licences relate to the type of road on which the skip is going to be deposited. The fees are also subject to an annual increase.
The application fees from April 2010 are as follows:
| Location of skip |
Application fee |
| On a road with no line markings |
£30.00 |
| On a road with a single yellow line |
£42.00 |
| In a (suspended) parking bay |
£42.00 |
| On a traffic sensitive road |
£42.00 |
Traffic sensitive roads
From 1 July 2008 traffic sensitive applications require seven clear working days (currently three clear working days) before a permit can be granted. Skips are not permitted on roads with red routes or double yellow lines or in disabled parking bays.
We have provided a list of all traffic sensitive roads in the borough. This list is currently being reviewed and may be subject to change during the coming weeks.
Enforcement
We expect you, as the skip company, to obtain the correct details and ensure the customer has completed any necessary action they need to take to ensure that the area where the skip is to be deposited has all of the appropriate suspensions etc.
Under the new skip licensing system, the council will take enforcement action against skip companies who deposit skips within the borough without the appropriate licence(s) or suspensions.
Frequently asked questions
Can you recommend a skip company?
We cannot recommend a skip company as their prices and level of service may vary. We only suggest that customers look in the Yellow Pages to find one.