If your skip can't go on your driveway, it will need a permit from Derby City Council before it can be placed on the road. The good news is you don't have to apply yourself — your skip company does it for you. This guide explains when you need a skip permit in Derby, what it costs, how long it takes and the rules that apply once the skip is on the street.
Derby skip permits at a glance
Do I need a skip permit in Derby?
You only need a permit if any part of the skip will sit on the public highway. That includes the road, the pavement and grass verges. If the skip fits entirely on your own land, no permit is needed.
Permit needed
- Skip on the road outside your house
- Skip on the pavement or footway
- Skip on a council grass verge
- Skip in a parking bay
No permit needed
- Skip on your driveway
- Skip in your front or back garden
- Skip on a private car park or yard (with the owner's agreement)
- Skip on a building site you control
Our tip: If you have a driveway, measure it before you book. A mini or 4 yard skip fits on most drives, which saves you the £60 permit and the three-day wait. Not sure? Call us and we'll help you work it out.
How much does a skip permit cost in Derby?
Derby City Council charges £60 for a skip permit lasting 28 days. If you need the skip on the road for longer, a new permit has to be applied for before the first one runs out, at another £60 for each further 28 days.
The fee is non-refundable, even if the council turns the application down. When you book with us, the permit fee is simply added to your quote, so you'll know the full price before your skip arrives. See our skip hire prices for the cost of the skip itself.
How do I get a skip permit in Derby?
In Derby, skip permits are applied for by the skip hire company, not the householder. Derby City Council only accepts applications from skip companies, and first-time applicants have to show the council their public liability insurance and waste licence.
So all you need to do is tell us when you book that the skip will go on the road. We'll apply to the council for you and confirm once it's approved.
Allow three working days
Derby City Council needs at least three working days' notice to process a permit. Weekends and bank holidays don't count, so if you need a skip on the road for a Monday, book by the Wednesday before. Skips going on a driveway can often be delivered the same or next day.
Where can a skip go on a Derby street?
The council decides where a skip can be placed as part of the permit. Derby City Council only allows skips in residential parking areas or parking meter bays where there is no other suitable spot. In practice, a skip on the road should:
- Sit as close to the kerb as possible, without blocking drains or gullies
- Leave the pavement clear for pedestrians, pushchairs and wheelchairs
- Not block anyone else's driveway, a junction or a bus stop
- Be easy for drivers to see, especially at night
When you call, let us know about anything that might affect placement — parked cars, narrow roads or overhead cables — and we'll plan the delivery around it.
Need a skip on the road?
We'll handle the Derby City Council permit for you. Call for a free quote.
Rules for a skip on the road
Under the Highways Act 1980, a skip on the public highway has to meet certain safety rules for as long as it's there. These are mainly the skip company's responsibility, but it helps to know them:
- Lit at night: the skip must be properly lit during the hours of darkness.
- Reflective markings: the ends of the skip carry red and yellow reflective markers so drivers can see it.
- Owner's details: the skip must be clearly marked with the owner's name and a phone number or address.
- Removed promptly: once it's full, the skip should be collected as soon as practicable.
- Permit conditions: any conditions the council sets in the permit must be followed.
As the hirer, the main thing is not to move the skip, cover its lights or markers, or let it overflow onto the road. If a lamp goes out or the skip gets knocked, call us and we'll sort it.
What happens if a skip is on the road without a permit?
Putting a skip on the highway without permission is an offence under the Highways Act 1980, with a fine of up to £1,000. Breaking the safety rules above, such as leaving a skip unlit at night, is also an offence with the same maximum fine.
Derby City Council can also charge an extra £60 inspection fee if it has to check a skip that doesn't meet the permit conditions. Using a licensed skip company that handles the permit properly avoids all of this.
Frequently asked questions about skip permits in Derby
More skip hire guides
Call us for a free quote — we'll tell you whether you need a permit and sort it for you.