Section 50 street works licence
If you want to carry out works in relation to apparatus in the public highway and do not have a statutory right to do so, you must apply for a section 50 licence.
You must give one month’s notice of your intention to break open the public highway.
Works and repairs that can be carried out under a section 50 licence may include:
- Supply of power to an EV chargepoint
- Installation of streetlights
- Install/remove/repair electricity supply
- Install/remove/repair water supply
- Installation of a manhole or chamber
- New sewer or drainage installation
- Any works that involve breaking open, boring or tunnelling under a street to place, adjust, repair, alter or renew any apparatus.
Before you apply
Before submitting your application, please make sure you have applied for any other relative permits that you may need as part of the works. This might include:
- Temporary traffic regulation orders
- Scaffold and hoarding licences
- Parking bay suspensions
- Approval from utilities for any connection to their services.
You should also consider the timescales to process other permit applications in addition to the one month’s notice required for section 50 works.
Fees
- Minor works £500 (£450 plus £50 admin fee)
- Major works £1550 (£1500 plus £50 admin fee)
Minor works involve alterations or repairs to existing services.
Major works include new gas service, new water service or other new apparatus, services or connections.
How to apply
You can apply and pay online below for a section 50 street works licence.
You will need to provide the following information with your application, so please have these details to hand:
- a copy of your public liability insurance (not less than £5 million and must be valid for the full period of the licence)
- evidence of supervisor and operative street works qualifications register
- northing and easting coordinates for location of works
- a copy of your traffic management plan
Read our privacy notice which tells you how we use your data.
What happens next?
When we have received your application and payment we will contact you to confirm if the licence has been approved and advise if any further permissions are needed. This may take between 7 to 10 days to process.
No works can take place until you have received approval.
Once authorised, we will send you the licence which must be always displayed clearly. Failure to do so may result in a fine or prosecution.
In the rare event that your licence is not approved, we will refund any fees paid, except for the £50 administration fee for your application, which is non-refundable.
If you have any questions about the licensing process, email section50@liverpool.gov.uk