Permits
Skip permit: Shetland Islands Council
If the skip sits on a Shetland public road, you need permission from Shetland Islands Council under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 – not Highways Act 1980. The Schedule of Charges from 1 April 2026 (checked 11 September 2026) publishes £36.91 for Section 85 permission to place a builders’ skip for up to one week, then £22.74 as the weekly charge after the first week. Applications need a location plan, traffic management plan and £5 million public liability.
Do not confuse the council’s own skip-hire rates (refuse skip hire) with the Section 85 road-occupation permit fee. Fees paid are for the application whether or not it is approved.
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
Use the online “Application for placing a skip on the public road” form on the Roads Permits page. In practice the hire firm usually applies – ask them at booking. Roads Service: roads@shetland.gov.uk / 01595 744866.
Fee, notice and size
| Item | What Shetland Islands Council published |
|---|---|
| Application fee | £36.91 up to one week (from 1 April 2026) |
| Extra weeks | £22.74 weekly charge after first week |
| Insurance | £5m public liability certificate required |
| Apply | Roads Permits – online skip form |
| Charges | Schedule of Charges from 1 April 2026 |
| Who applies | Ask the hire firm |
| Statute | Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, section 85 |
Neighbours
Country map: Skip hire in Scotland. Nearby verified: Orkney Islands, Highland, Na h-Eileanan Siar.
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 Shetland Islands 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 Shetland Islands Council. The permit rules on this page apply when the skip sits on the public road.
No town pages under this council yet. See all towns.
All areas: Skip hire by town.
Sources
- Shetland Islands Council: Schedule of Charges from 1 April 2026 – Section 85 builders skip £36.91 / week 1; £22.74 thereafter. Checked 11 September 2026.
- Shetland: Roads Permits – online skip application; £5m PL; plans required.
- Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, section 85.
- No invented provider list or hire prices on this page.