When carrying out any building work/maintenance or removal of any part of a property which is adjacent to the public highway (road, pavement or rear lane), the safety of all users of the highway is a priority.

This is achieved by providing safe areas at ground level or a platform at high level. When it is necessary to place hoardings on the highway around the place of work or to erect a scaffolding, you need to get permission from Devon County Council. To place a hoarding adjacent to the highway, or to erect a scaffolding on the highway without first applying for and being granted a licence is an offence under The Highways Act and may result in a prosecution. Once permission has been granted, the conditions attached to the licence must be carefully read and kept to at all times. The basic requirements of the conditions are as follows:

• Scaffolding and hoardings may only be erected on the public highway by suitably qualified contractors.
• A licence can be valid for a maximum of 12 weeks, however if a scaffolding is actually only required for 10 days, the application should state that. For longer periods, additional applications should be made.
• A minimum of 10 working days notice is required to process the application.

For Scaffold Companies only

Scaffolds must be erected in accordance with the Scaffolding Schedule of Conditions (42KB - pdf help).

Download and print off the Scaffolding Licence Application Form (35KB - pdf help) and send it by post to Skip and Scaffold Applications, Lucombe House, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter, EX2 4QD.

If our contractors are called out to lamp a scaffold or make it safe, a charge will follow. Scaffolds erected illegally on the public highway may lead to their removal and prosecution.