Apply for a skip licence

We issue licences to skip companies to deposit skips on public highways.

Only skip companies can obtain licences and all skip applications must be submitted by the skip company who intends to deposit the skip.

To ensure the location is in Lambeth, before applying, use GOV.UK's Find your local council service.

Who can use this service?

If you're hiring a skip, the skip company will complete the application process on your behalf.

This may include:

  • payment for the licence fee
  • the fee for the hire of the skip
  • taking care of any dealings with the skip licensing department on your behalf (they may make an additional charge to cover their administration for this).

Costs for this service

Our Fees and Charges are subject to an annual review. Below is a list of the fees for 22/23.

Please note that the fees were updated on 01 April 2022.

We currently operate a system that allows skip companies to pay in advance for their skip licences via debit, credit card or by cheque.

All cheques should be made payable to 'London Borough of Lambeth' and sent to Lambeth Council, PO Box 80771, London, SW2 9QQ

Location of skipApplication feeDuration
On a road with no line markings£69.302 weeks
On a road with a single yellow line£69.302 weeks
In a (suspended) parking bay£69.302 weeks
On a traffic sensitive road£69.302 weeks

What you need to know...

The maximum dimensions of the skip permitted is six yards (5.5 metres). Anything bigger is classified as a container and will need to be applied for via the highways licences guide.

We expect you, as the skip company to, for example:

  • obtain the correct details
  • 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.

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.

Waiting and loading of skips

Please note that we do not permit 'wait and load' where a skip may be temporarily deposited on the public highway or remain on a skip lorry, loaded and then removed.

Lambeth Environmental Services and Highways have identified that a number of skip companies are negotiating with their customers to provide a wait and load service.

Lambeth Council has at no time adopted such a policy. We require any skip that is placed on the public highway, or being loaded onto a parked skip lorry, to have obtained the requisite skip licence.

Where it has been established that skip companies are adopting this approach, we will no longer provide them with the flexibility to pay via monthly invoice. We may take a view to suspend the issuing of skip licences until assurances are received that this practice will no longer continue. Additionally, a fixed penalty notice may be issued to your company by the enforcement team, for non-compliance of our licensing policy.

Do it online

Apply online to place a skip on a public road or highway