City of Westminster scaffold licence

What City of Westminster 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.

City of Westminster 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

City of Westminster

Checked by hand

Apply at least

18 days

before the scaffold goes up

Licence fee£648

NoticeNot published

Council takes18 days

Fee covers: Temporary structure licence, 0 to 2 months on a minor road, under 50 square metres: £648. The fee depends on the road category (major or minor), the area and the duration (see the price list). Consideration fees are VAT exempt.

See all 10 prices (61 to 183 days)

Every licence price this council publishes
Minor road, under 50 m², 0 to 2 months	£648
Minor road, under 50 m², 3 to 4 months	£1,083
Minor road, under 50 m², 5 to 6 months	£1,566
Minor road, over 50 m², 0 to 2 months	£3,186
Minor road, over 50 m², 3 to 4 months	£3,476
Major road, under 50 m², 0 to 2 months	£1,296
Major road, under 50 m², 3 to 4 months	£2,167
Major road, under 50 m², 5 to 6 months	£3,132
Major road, over 50 m², 0 to 2 months	£6,371
Major road, over 50 m², 3 to 4 months	£6,952

ExtensionNot published

Other charges

Duplicate licenceIf you require a duplicate licence a fee of £60 will be required.£60
No licenceIf you do not obtain a licence for a temporary structure on the highway you could be charged a maximum of double the original licence fee.
RefundsFull refund if withdrawn within four working days; 50% after that until the licence is issued; none once issued.

Longest licence: 183 days

What the council asks for (14)

Maintain 1.5m width and 2.44m headroom clearance for pedestrians
Display 'Scaffold is incomplete' signs while erecting
Vertical poles not closer than 0.45m to kerb edge unless agreed
Scaffolding projecting beyond kerb must have 4.88m clearance above carriageway
If under 0.45m from kerb, use painted baulk timbers with red bulkhead lights every 3m
Light scaffold from half hour after sunset to half hour before sunrise
White bulkhead lights inside, red bulkhead lights outside, at 2.44m height and 3m intervals
Provide pedestrian escape routes at 3m intervals if scaffold longer than 3m
Obtain police approval in principle for certain structures before licence issued
Poles/standards painted white or fitted with red and white sleeving up to 2.44m
Fit plastic end caps on horizontal poles like handrails
Secure scaffolding, boards, sheeting against high winds
Must not obstruct emergency services vehicle access
Erect protective scaffold fan if risk of falling material to pedestrians or vehicles

In the council's words

“Licence fees Duration | Minor road less than 50 square metres | Minor road more than 50 square metres | Major road less than 50 square metres | Major road more than 50 square metres 0 to 2 months | £648 | £3,186 | £1,296 | £6,371 3 to 4 months | £1,083 | £3,476 | £2,167 | £6,952 5 to 6 months | £1,566 | N/A | £3,132 | N/A”

westminster.gov.ukChecked 13 Oct 2026

Apply on the council's site