The rule is simple. Scaffolding entirely on your own land does not need a council licence. Scaffolding that stands on, or overhangs, land the public uses does.
That single point catches out a lot of homeowners and contractors, because in towns like Brighton, Hove and Lewes the front wall of the house often sits directly on the pavement. If you tell us early, the paperwork is straightforward and it will not hold up your start date.
A licence application needs lead time. Mention the pavement when you first contact us and we will build the timing into your programme.
When is a scaffolding licence required?
You will normally need one if any part of the structure, including base plates, kicker lifts, protective fans or the netting, sits over public land. In practice that means:
- Scaffold standing on a public footway or pavement.
- Scaffold standing in a road, parking bay or verge.
- Scaffold on private land but overhanging the highway boundary.
- Pedestrian walkways or gantries formed under the scaffold.
- Hoardings, fans or debris protection projecting over public space.
You will not usually need one for a scaffold wholly within a private garden, drive or yard, though you may still need permission from a neighbour or a managing agent if part of it crosses their land.
What the Sussex councils require
Highway licensing is handled by the highway authority, not the planning department. Sussex is split across three of them.
| Authority | Covers | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Brighton & Hove City Council | Brighton, Hove, Portslade, Rottingdean | Busy urban footways, tight terraces and controlled parking. Applications are common and conditions are detailed, particularly on shopping streets and the seafront. |
| East Sussex County Council | Lewes, Eastbourne, Newhaven, Seaford and surrounding villages | County highways process, with conditions on pedestrian routes and signage. Town centre locations may need extra traffic management. |
| West Sussex County Council | Worthing, Shoreham, Henfield, Burgess Hill, Horsham and beyond | County highways process. Rural sites are generally simple, coastal town centres need more planning. |
Fees, licence lengths and forms change from time to time. We check the current requirements for each job rather than assuming.
We work across all three areas every week, from Brighton and Hove through to Worthing, Shoreham, Lewes, Eastbourne and Burgess Hill.
Who applies for the licence?
The scaffolding contractor does. Councils will only licence a scaffold to a company that holds the required public liability insurance and can show the structure will be built and inspected properly. As the property owner you do not apply yourself.
What we need from you is the correct address, confirmation of the work, and honest information about how much of the pavement will be occupied. We do the rest, including the insurance evidence, the drawings where required and the fee.
Get a Scaffold Quote
We will tell you at quotation stage whether your job needs a licence and what it will add.
How long do applications take?
Allow a working week as a minimum, and longer for busy town centre streets, bus routes or anything needing traffic management. Straightforward residential applications are often quicker, but nobody can guarantee a council turnaround.
Licences are issued for a fixed period, commonly a month at a time. The licence must be in place before the scaffold goes up, so the sequence is: quotation, licence application, licence granted, scaffold erected.
If your roofer is booked for a specific week, contact us as early as possible. Licence lead time is the single most common cause of a delayed scaffold in urban Sussex.
Licence extensions and overruns
If the work takes longer than expected, the licence has to be extended before it expires. That is a second application and a second fee, so it is worth being realistic about programme length at the start.
A scaffold left standing on public land with an expired licence is a problem for everyone. The council can require its removal, and enforcement action against the licence holder is possible. Keep us informed the moment your programme slips and we will handle the extension quietly in the background.
Pedestrian access and public safety
Licence conditions exist to keep the footway usable and the public safe. Typical requirements include:
- A clear route: a minimum unobstructed footway width, or a protected walkway through or around the scaffold.
- Wheelchair and pram access: level, unobstructed passage, not a step over a base plate.
- Lighting: amber warning lights on the scaffold from dusk until dawn.
- Signage: hazard markings, contractor details and emergency contact information.
- Protection: padding or wrapping on standards at head height, plus fans or netting where materials could fall.
- Ladder security: access removed or locked off outside working hours.
- Anti climb measures: often required where a scaffold is adjacent to public space overnight.
Our edge protection and scaffold alarm options are often used on licensed street scaffolds for exactly these reasons.
What you should tell us early
- Will any part sit on the pavement?
- Is the property on a bus route or main road?
- Is there a controlled parking zone?
- Is the building listed or in a conservation area?
- Is it a flat with a managing agent?
- Are there shops or a business entrance below?
- Your realistic start date
- How long the work should take
None of these are obstacles. They just change the order in which things need to happen.
Permit and licence FAQs
Do I need planning permission for scaffolding?
No. Scaffolding is temporary and does not need planning permission, even on a listed building. What it may need is a highway licence, and listed or conservation area properties can bring extra conditions on how the scaffold is fixed and tied.
Who pays the licence fee?
The fee is a council charge and is passed through to the customer. We show it clearly on your quotation rather than absorbing it into a round number.
Can I put scaffolding on my neighbour's land?
Only with their agreement. Many Sussex terraces need a small return around a corner or a base plate on the neighbouring side. It is far easier to ask before the crew arrives than on the day.
Do I need a licence for a driveway scaffold?
Not if the driveway is private and nothing overhangs the pavement. If the scaffold projects over the footway at the front boundary, a licence is needed for the projection.
What about parking suspensions?
If the scaffold occupies a parking bay, or our vehicles need space to load out, a bay suspension may be required alongside the licence. These are applied for separately and also need lead time.