Reading Borough Council scaffold licence

What Reading Borough Council charges for a scaffolding or hoarding licence, how much notice it needs, and where to apply. Add the day your scaffold goes up to get the date you have to apply by.

Reading Borough Council licenses scaffolding on the roads it looks after. If you're not sure a site is on one of them, look up its postcode.

Scaffold goes up

Council to apply to

Reading Borough Council

Checked by hand

Apply at least

40 days

before the scaffold goes up

Licence fee£210

NoticeNot published

Council takes40 days

Fee covers: Standard fee for first 4 weeks: £210 residential or £347 commercial

See all 3 prices (28 to 28 days)

Every licence price this council publishes
Residential - first 4 weeks	£210
Commercial - first 4 weeks	£347
Additional 4 weeks	£160

Extension(£160 per additional 4-week period after the first 4 weeks)£160

Insurance needed: £10 million public liability

What the council asks for (9)

Applications only accepted from scaffolding companies, not building contractors or residents
Minimum licence period for a scaffold licence is 4 weeks
Renewal required if works continue beyond licence period; not automatic
A scaffold tag must be displayed at all times with a current licence number
A laminated copy of the current scaffolding licence must be displayed on the scaffolding
Licence must be visible to anyone using the public highway
Licensee (scaffolding company) is responsible for the scaffolding and must follow terms and conditions
Emergency erections still require a licence, applied for after erection
One application and payment can cover both hoarding and scaffolding licences for same premise and duration

In the council's words

“The standard fee is £210 residential or £347 commercial for the first 4 weeks and then £160 per additional 4 weeks.”

reading.gov.ukChecked 13 Oct 2026

Apply on the council's site