Scaffolding and hoarding licence: cost and how to apply

If your scaffolding or a site hoarding needs to sit on, over, or extend onto a public road or pavement, rather than entirely within your own boundary, you need a licence from your local council's highways team, under section 169 of the Highways Act 1980.
Nearly 350 councils across England and Wales each set their own fee and process, so what you pay - and how it's calculated - genuinely depends on which authority you're applying to.

This guide covers scaffolding and hoarding licences specifically - if you're looking for skip permits, see our dedicated skip permit guide, which covers that separate but related permission.

This is general information, not legal or construction-safety advice. For anything specific to your job or site, contact your local council's highways licensing team directly.

What is a scaffolding or hoarding licence, and why do you need one?

Placing scaffolding, a hoarding, or another structure on a public highway - which legally includes the pavement, not just the road itself - obstructs space the public has a right to use, so councils control it through a licence system.

Section 169 of the Highways Act 1980 states that no one may "erect or retain on or over a highway any scaffolding or other structure which obstructs the highway... unless he is authorised to do so by a licence in writing issued for the purposes of this section by the highway authority" (legislation.gov.uk, checked 23 August 2026).

Hoarding - a temporary barrier or enclosure around a construction or demolition site - is controlled under the same section when it extends onto or over the highway, which is why most councils handle scaffolding and hoarding applications through the same team and, often, the same fee structure.

Who applies, and what you need to submit?

It's usually the contractor or scaffolding firm carrying out the work, not the property owner, who applies - though the responsibility ultimately sits with whoever is named on the licence.

• A plan or sketch showing the exact length, position and dimensions of the scaffolding or hoarding
• Public liability insurance - most councils ask for a minimum of £10 million cover
• The intended start date and how long you expect to need the licence for

What do scaffolding and hoarding licences cost?

There's no single national fee - costs vary by council, and are often charged per week, per fortnight or per month of occupation, sometimes banded by the length of highway you're using.

✓ Checked against three live council fee schedules, 23 August 2026

Be cautious of any third-party site quoting a single fixed UK-wide price for a scaffolding or hoarding licence - because the fee is genuinely set locally, and often scales with both time and the length of highway used, a single national figure is a sign the source hasn't checked current council guidance.

How to apply, step by step

1. Confirm you actually need a licence - if the scaffolding or hoarding will sit entirely within your own boundary, off the highway, you don't.
2. Find the right council for the road or pavement where the structure will sit.
3. Prepare your plan or sketch showing exactly where and how far it will extend.
4. Arrange public liability insurance that meets your council's minimum, typically £10 million.
5. Submit your application with advance notice - many councils ask for 14 days' notice, and some quote processing times of around 3 weeks (Hertfordshire, checked 23 August 2026), so don't leave it to the last minute.
6. Pay the council's fee, checking the exact current amount and how long it covers with that council directly.
7. Meet the safety conditions attached to the licence - lighting between sunset and sunrise, reflective markings, cones, pedestrian clearance widths, and compliance with any traffic sign directions.

Do these licences expire, and can you extend them?

Yes - all scaffolding and hoarding licences are time-limited, and you'll need to reapply or extend if the job runs on longer than planned.

Duration and renewal terms vary by council: some charge weekly extensions on top of an initial period (Hertfordshire's £59-a-week extension, for example), while others simply bill per month or per fortnight for as long as the structure stays up.

Because there's no single national duration or renewal process, confirm the exact term and extension route with the council issuing your specific licence.

Frequently asked questions

apply for licence is an independent guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to GOV.UK, any local council or any government body. This page is general information, not legal or construction-safety advice - for anything specific to your job or site, contact your local council's highways licensing team directly.