When to apply
You need a licence from us if you want to:
- work on or occupy the public highway
- temporarily close roads
- ban certain traffic movements, if you need this to carry out your works safely
Once we've assessed your proposals, we'll issue you a highway licence.
Never carry out your activities without our approval. Any unlicensed activity on the highway will be viewed as an obstruction. The responsible party may be subject to a penalty fine or prosecution.
Any activity that breaches the terms and conditions of the licence may be subject to further penalties.
Licence conditions
All highway licences are subject to terms and conditions. You must familiarise yourself with them before you apply.
Additional bespoke conditions may also apply. We'll let you know about them when we approve your licence.
Before you apply
Only registered companies can apply for a licence. Consider red routes, Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) Planning Condition and parking suspensions.
View our our Guidelines for Licence Applications for more information.
If your highway licence involves any part of a temporary structure oversailing a private property, you must get permission from the property owner and submit this with your application.
Apply for a licence
To apply for a licence:
- download and complete an application form
- email it to [email protected]
- for an accessible version of the file, email [email protected]
Request an application form
You can request an application form:
- email: [email protected] with your name and postal address
- phone: 020 7361 2424, Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm
What happens next
Once we receive your application, we’ll:
- send you payment details
- review your application after your payment within 10 working days
- email you about approval or if we need more information
We apply a different process for:
Cancellations and refunds
You may still be charged a fee if you cancel your licence after payment.
If we have not processed the licence yet, we will issue a:
- full refund if cancelled within 2 working days
- 50% refund if cancelled within 3 to 5 working days
- 25% refund if cancelled after 5 working days
This does not apply for temporary traffic orders or oversail licences.
Extending a highway licence
Some highway licences can be extended.
To extend your licence:
- fill in a new application form
- email it to [email protected] before your current licence expires (no later than 24 hours before expiry on a working day)
You also need to pay your application fee and any suspension fees that you owe. Where your licence is issued based on the actual duration of your proposed works, rather than a fixed licence period, a different process applies.
Please refer to details within the drop-down menu for the respective licence.
Repairs and refunds
After finishing your work or removing the temporary structure, you must notify us by writing.
We'll inspect the site for any damage caused by your activities to the:
- footway
- road surface
- street furniture
You'll have to pay for any necessary repairs. We reserve the right to reinstate damaged highways surfaces or assets at the licensee’s cost.
In some cases, we may approve for a competent contractor to carry out the work, subject to certain conditions and inspections.
If no repairs are needed, we'll refund any deposit we owe you. Refund requests must be made in writing within 6 months after your last licence expired.
Allow up to 28 days to receive the refund. This does not apply to:
- skip licences
- mobile lifting licences
- temporary traffic orders
- oversail licences
Costs
The cost varies for the different types of highway licence. This is based on the activity you propose to carry out.
There may also be a fee associated with holding your deposit, which is non-refundable. Details of fees can be found under the drop-down menu for the respective licence.