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Licensing highway obstructions and private streetworks

Items which cause an obstruction on or over the highway such as skips, scaffolding, building materials or bunting are required to be licensed by the appropriate highway authority. A licence is also required to place private water or sewage apparatus in the highway.

For obstructions on the highway, or banners or bunting over the highway, a fee paying licence is required and certain conditions will need to be met. If you need to place apparatus in the highway you will also need to apply for a private street works licence and pay the appropriate fee.

Skips

If you need to place a skip on the highway you need to hire the skip from a skip company (you can find one through the yellow pages, local paper or advertiser). The skip company will apply to the Highway Authority for a licence on your behalf. The licence costs £60.00 per 28 days (non refundable), or £30.00 to renew an existing licence, and should be included as part of the hire cost. The skip company will deliver and remove the skip and they must meet the requirements set down in the licence and by the highway office.

The application must be submitted at least one week before the skip is required on site.

Scaffold

If you require scaffolding on the footway or the highway you will need to obtain a licence from the Highway Authority. There is a fee of either £60.00 per 28 days (non refundable) or £30.00 to renew an existing licence and certain conditions will need to be met. If you get a scaffold company to erect the scaffolding on your behalf then they will obtain the licence for you and the cost should be included in the hire fee. The scaffold firm are also required to meet the conditions set down in the licence and by the Highway Authority.

The application must be submitted at least one week before the scaffold is due to be erected.

Hoarding

If you have works which require hoarding on the highway you will need a licence from the appropriate Highway Authority and certain conditions will need to be met. You will also need public liability insurance for the sum of £5 million. You need to give at least one weeks notice and the licence is issued for 28 days and costs £86.75, comprising of £50.00 non refundable administration fee plus an inspection fee of £36.75. If the hoarding does not meet the required standard on the initial inspection an additional fee of £36.75 will be levied per further inspection.

Building materials on the highway

If you need to place any building materials on the highway a licence is required and you will also need public liability insurance for the sum of £5 million. You need to give at least one weeks notice when applying for the licence. The cost of the licence is £60.00 (non refundable) and the licence period runs for 28 days.

Banners and Bunting

If you would like to put up bunting for a carnival or street party, or erect a banner over the highway to advertise an event there are some guidelines you need to follow.  For banners there may also be a cost involved.  More detailed information can be found on the Banners and bunting page

Private Street Works

You must apply for a road opening licence from the highway authority and arrange for a suitably qualified contractor to carry out the work. In an emergency, by agreement with the Road Space Management Team, the work can be carried out whilst the licence is being prepared. The licence will cost around £380 but it is an offence to carry out work without it. Once you have completed the  Section 50 application form (word, 224kb) (opens in a new window)  it should be returned to the Road Space Management team.

How to apply for a licence

Application forms for licences  for Dorset County Council and Christchurch Borough Council may be downloaded from this page.  If you have any queries please contact the relevant Highway Authority for your area.

Please contact Weymouth & Portland Borough Council for the relevant application form.

The fees quoted on this page apply to Dorset County Council and Christchurch Borough Council, fees charged by Weymouth & Portland Council may be higher.

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