Permits
Skip permit: East Lothian Council
If the skip sits on an East Lothian public road or footway, you need a builders’ skip permit from East Lothian Council under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 – not Highways Act 1980. The Road Services Permit Fees 2026–27 schedule (linked from the road permits page; checked 11 September 2026) publishes a commercial rate of £62 for four weeks (then £29 per additional week) and a household rate of £41 for four weeks for a Council Tax-registered main residence (then £14 per additional week). Skip permits can normally be issued within about 10 days.
Use the household rate only if you qualify as a Council Tax main residence under the schedule. Commercial jobs pay the commercial band. Recheck the live fees PDF on the day you book.
When you need one
- Public road, pavement or footway in this council area: yes – Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, section 85.
- Wholly on a driveway or other private land you control: no. National rule: Do I need a skip permit?.
The statutory hook is Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, section 85.
Who applies
Apply via the roads permit application form on the road permits and consents page. In practice the hire firm usually applies – ask them at booking.
Fee, notice and size
| Item | What East Lothian Council published |
|---|---|
| Commercial fee | £62 for 4 weeks; £29 each additional week (2026/27) |
| Household fee | £41 for 4 weeks; £14 each additional week – Council Tax-registered main residence only |
| Notice | Skip permits normally issued within about 10 days |
| Apply | Road permits and consents |
| Who applies | Ask the hire firm |
| Statute | Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, section 85 |
Neighbours
Country map: Skip hire in Scotland. Nearby verified: Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scottish Borders.
A sensible order
- Can it sit wholly on the drive? If yes, book that and skip the permit.
- If it has to go on the road, tell the hire firm which roads authority covers your street and ask them to apply under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984.
- Check their waste-carrier registration on SEPA – how to check a waste carrier licence.
- Size the job on the size guide.
Skip Clerk has no hire partners yet and no skip-hire prices on this page. The fee figures are East Lothian Council's published permit charges, not a hire quote. When we add a booking link it will be marked as an affiliate link.
Towns in this council
Local skip-hire guides that sit under East Lothian Council. The permit rules on this page apply when the skip sits on the public road.
- Skip hire in Dunbar
- Skip hire in Haddington
- Skip hire in Musselburgh
- Skip hire in North Berwick
- Skip hire in Prestonpans
- Skip hire in Tranent
All areas: Skip hire by town.
Sources
- East Lothian Council: Road permits and consents – links Road Services Permit Fees 2026-27; skip permits ~10 days. Checked 11 September 2026.
- East Lothian Road Services Permit Fees 2026-27 – commercial/household skip rates.
- Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, section 85.
- No invented provider list or hire prices on this page.