Guide · skip permits
Skip permits in Essex and East London, council by council
If a skip goes on the road, pavement or verge it needs a licence. Most of Essex is handled by Essex Highways, not your district council. Southend, Thurrock and each London borough issue their own. Here's who to deal with and how long it takes, for every town we cover.
Who issues skip licences
| Issued by | Towns we cover | Notice needed | Size limit on the road | Who applies | Official page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essex County Council | Wickford, Basildon, Billericay, Laindon, Pitsea, Rayleigh, Benfleet, Hadleigh, Hockley, Canvey Island, Rochford, South Woodham Ferrers, Brentwood, Chelmsford, Ingatestone, Witham, Maldon, Southminster, Burnham-on-Crouch, Tiptree, Braintree, Colchester, Dunmow, Halstead, Stansted Mountfitchet, Clacton-on-Sea, Saffron Walden, Harwich, Chipping Ongar, Chigwell, Waltham Abbey, Epping, Harlow, Loughton | 10 working days | 6-yard maximum on the highway | Skip company only | Council page |
| Southend-on-Sea City Council | Leigh-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, Shoeburyness | 10 days | None published | Skip company only | Council page |
| Thurrock Council | Corringham, Stanford-le-Hope, Tilbury, Grays, South Ockendon | at least a week | None published | Skip company only | Council page |
| Havering Council | Upminster, Hornchurch, Romford, Rainham | at least a week | None published | Skip company only | Council page |
| Barking and Dagenham Council | Dagenham, Barking | at least a week | Skip must not exceed 5 metres long by 2 metres wide unless specifically authorised | Skip company only | Council page |
| Redbridge Council | Ilford, Woodford | 7 days | None published | Skip company only | Council page |
| Waltham Forest Council | Chingford | at least a week | Skip must not exceed 5 metres long by 2 metres wide and 6.12 cubic metres (8 cubic yards) | Skip company only | Council page |
What will it cost? Permit prices vary by council, by street and by how long the skip stays, and they change each April. Enquire online and we'll confirm the permit price and timing for your street before you book.
Find your town
| Town | Postcodes | Skip licences from | Notice | Skip hire page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wickford | SS11, SS12 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Wickford |
| Basildon | SS13, SS14, SS15, SS16 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Basildon |
| Billericay | CM11, CM12 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Billericay |
| Laindon | SS15, SS16 | Essex County Council | at least a week | Skips in Laindon |
| Pitsea | SS13, SS16 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Pitsea |
| Rayleigh | SS6 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Rayleigh |
| Benfleet | SS7 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Benfleet |
| Hadleigh | SS7 | Essex County Council | at least a week | Skips in Hadleigh |
| Hockley | SS5 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Hockley |
| Canvey Island | SS8 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Canvey Island |
| Leigh-on-Sea | SS9 | Southend-on-Sea City Council | 10 days | Skips in Leigh-on-Sea |
| Rochford | SS4 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Rochford |
| Southend-on-Sea | SS0, SS1, SS2, SS3, SS9 | Southend-on-Sea City Council | 10 days | Skips in Southend-on-Sea |
| Shoeburyness | SS3 | Southend-on-Sea City Council | 10 days | Skips in Shoeburyness |
| Corringham | SS17 | Thurrock Council | at least a week | Skips in Corringham |
| Stanford-le-Hope | SS17 | Thurrock Council | at least a week | Skips in Stanford-le-Hope |
| Tilbury | RM18 | Thurrock Council | at least a week | Skips in Tilbury |
| Grays | RM16, RM17, RM20 | Thurrock Council | at least a week | Skips in Grays |
| South Ockendon | RM15 | Thurrock Council | at least a week | Skips in South Ockendon |
| South Woodham Ferrers | CM3 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in South Woodham Ferrers |
| Brentwood | CM13, CM14, CM15 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Brentwood |
| Chelmsford | CM1, CM2, CM3 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Chelmsford |
| Ingatestone | CM4 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Ingatestone |
| Witham | CM8 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Witham |
| Maldon | CM9 | Essex County Council | at least a week | Skips in Maldon |
| Southminster | CM0 | Essex County Council | at least a week | Skips in Southminster |
| Burnham-on-Crouch | CM0 | Essex County Council | at least a week | Skips in Burnham-on-Crouch |
| Tiptree | CO5 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Tiptree |
| Braintree | CM7, CM77 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Braintree |
| Colchester | CO1, CO2, CO3, CO4 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Colchester |
| Dunmow | CM6 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Dunmow |
| Halstead | CO9 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Halstead |
| Stansted Mountfitchet | CM24 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Stansted Mountfitchet |
| Clacton-on-Sea | CO15, CO16 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Clacton-on-Sea |
| Saffron Walden | CB10, CB11 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Saffron Walden |
| Harwich | CO12 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Harwich |
| Chipping Ongar | CM5 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Chipping Ongar |
| Chigwell | IG7 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Chigwell |
| Waltham Abbey | EN9 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Waltham Abbey |
| Epping | CM16 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Epping |
| Harlow | CM17, CM18, CM19, CM20 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Harlow |
| Loughton | IG10 | Essex County Council | 10 working days | Skips in Loughton |
| Upminster | RM14 | Havering Council | at least a week | Skips in Upminster |
| Hornchurch | RM11, RM12 | Havering Council | at least a week | Skips in Hornchurch |
| Romford | RM1, RM2, RM3, RM5, RM7 | Havering Council | at least a week | Skips in Romford |
| Rainham | RM13 | Havering Council | at least a week | Skips in Rainham |
| Dagenham | RM8, RM9, RM10 | Barking and Dagenham Council | at least a week | Skips in Dagenham |
| Barking | IG11 | Barking and Dagenham Council | at least a week | Skips in Barking |
| Ilford | IG1, IG2, IG3, IG4, IG5, IG6 | Redbridge Council | 7 days | Skips in Ilford |
| Chingford | E4 | Waltham Forest Council | at least a week | Skips in Chingford |
| Woodford | IG8, E18 | Redbridge Council | 7 days | Skips in Woodford |
How to avoid the permit altogether
Three options, all of which we do every week:
- Put the skip on the driveway. No licence and no wait: delivered from the next working day. Most semis have room for a 4 or 6-yard.
- Wait and load. The truck waits up to an hour while you load it with our driver's help, then leaves. Same volumes as a skip, no permit, and it works on roads a skip lorry can't stop on. Wait and load prices.
- A collection. List the items and bags and our crew carries them out on our Tuesday and Thursday rounds. Priced per item. Collection prices, or for a bigger clear-out, a free rubbish clearance estimate.
Questions people ask
Who applies for the skip permit?
In almost every council area, the skip company. Licences are issued to registered skip operators with public liability insurance, so you can't usually apply yourself. We do it as part of the booking.
How much is a skip permit?
It depends on the council, the street and how long the skip stays, and some areas add a parking bay suspension on top. Enquire online and we'll confirm the permit price and timing for your street before you book.
How long does a skip licence take?
Anything from three working days to two weeks depending on the council. The table above has the notice period for each. A driveway skip needs no licence and can usually be delivered next day.
Do I need a permit on my driveway?
No. Permits are only for the public highway, which includes the road, the pavement and the grass verge.
Does the skip need lights or cones?
Yes. Road skips must show the company name and phone number, have reflective markings, and be lit at night with amber lamps. We supply and fit these.
Skip going on the road? Ask us first.
Tell us the street and the skip size and we'll come back with the permit price and the earliest delivery date.