Applications and licences

To carry out work or place anything on the public highway, that will cause an obstruction, hazard or danger, you will almost certainly require authorisation from Kent County Council. This will ensure the highway is safe for all road users.

As the Highway Authority, we have to adhere to a number of Statute and Common Laws, which protect the highway, its users and the people working on it.

Any request to work on our footpaths and carriageways, or place any item which might cause an obstruction, has to be coordinated by us.

There are four teams who deal with this:

• North West - Dartford, Gravesham and Sevenoaks
• West Central - Maidstone, Tonbridge and Malling and Tunbridge Wells
• East Central - Ashford, Canterbury and Swale
• South East - Dover, Thanet and Shepway.
  

How to apply for a licence

The fee is the same whether you apply online, email or by post.

To apply for a licence you can either:

• apply online
• download an application form below
• or email your application to kent.highwayservices@kent.gov.uk or please telephone us if you need any assistance in completing your application.
  

Application forms

• Apparatus in the highway (PDF, 67k)  
• Banners, cables, decorative lighting or bunting over the highway (PDF, 42k)
• Cultivation of the highway (PDF, 36k)
• Events on the highway (PDF, 37k)
• Filming on the highway
• Hoarding or site fencing on the highway (PDF, 44k)
• Maintaining apparatus in the highway (PDF, 67k)
• Materials on the highway (PDF, 43k)
• Road closure and TTRO form (PDF, 34k)
• Scaffold on the highway (PDF, 47k)
• Sewer connections (PDF, 67k)
• Skip(s) on the highway (PDF, 540k) 
• Tables and chairs on the highway (PDF, 197k) 
• Temporary traffic signals (PDF, 205k)
• Temporary sign for an event or housing development (PDF, 83k)
• Tourist sign (brown sign)
• Vehicle crossovers (PDF, 65k)
• White vehicle access marking lines (dog bones) new (PDF, 65k)
• White vehicle access marking lines (dog bones) refresh (PDF, 44k)
  

Each request is processed by us and the site should be inspected by a Highway Inspector to ensure what is being applied for is practical, safe and adheres to the laws and our own specifications. In some cases, certain conditions will apply and these will be considered with each application.

There is a highway activities enforcement team to make sure conditions are followed and no breaches or infringements are made. They deal with most infringements, hazards or obstructions on the highway, in particular, those associated with licence and permit applications. They work closely with district and borough councils, Trading Standards and our Community Wardens within the county.

The main laws used are:

• The Highways Act 1980
• New Roads and Street Works Act 1991
• The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984
• Town Police Clauses Act 1847
  

There are also many other pieces of legislation we have to refer to, these are noted on each application where applicable.

For more information about each act, visit the Ministry of Justice website.

Planning applications

Our position as a highway authority is strictly in an advisory capacity and can only make recommendations - the final decision will always sit with your local district or borough council development control staff who deal with all types of planning applications and other consents under the planning law.