Dropped kerb in Leeds: the rules and fees
Leeds City Council charges £55.06 for the site inspection and wants a parking space at least 5 m deep. The fee is not refunded. If you go ahead, add £345.90 for the Section 171 licence, which your contractor applies for.
Read from Leeds City Council’s own pages on 11 October 2026. Leeds. The city council is both the highway authority and the planning authority.
- Fee: Leeds City Council charges £55.06 for the site inspection, not refunded, plus £345.90 for the section 171 licence.
- Space: a parking space at least 5 m deep.
- Junctions: judged on site
- Who builds it: Leeds lets you hire your own qualified contractor.
- Decision: A highways inspector contacts you, takes the inspection fee, visits, and sends a commencement letter if every requirement is met.
Leeds’s rules, one by one
| Rule | What Leeds asks | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Depth of the space | At least 5 m between the boundary and the house, for a hard standing inside the property. | LCC vehicle crossing page, Before you apply |
| Street trees | If a tree is in the way, contact the forestry team before applying. | LCC vehicle crossing page, Before you apply |
| Street lights | A street lamp, BT column or similar in the way may be moved by its owner, for a charge. | LCC vehicle crossing page, Additional charges |
| Other street furniture | A street lamp, BT column or similar in the way may be moved by its owner, for a charge. | LCC vehicle crossing page, Additional charges |
| Permission from the owner | Council tenants, and owners of former council homes, need the local housing office’s permission first. | LCC vehicle crossing page, Before you apply |
What it costs in Leeds
| What you pay | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Site inspection fee | £55.06 | LCC vehicle crossing page |
| Section 171 licence (your contractor applies) | £345.90 | LCC vehicle crossing page |
| Building the crossingA standard crossing usually costs around | about £1,500 | LCC vehicle crossing page |
Leeds lets you hire your own qualified contractor. You hire a New Roads and Street Works Act accredited contractor, who applies for a Section 171 licence to dig in the highway.
Applying, and what happens next
- A highways inspector contacts you, takes the inspection fee, visits, and sends a commencement letter if every requirement is met.
- Not stated on the page.
- Not stated on the page; there is no guarantee a crossing will be permitted.
Planning permission in Leeds
The highway consent and planning permission are separate. Nationally, an access on to an unclassified road and a porous or drained hard surface are permitted development for a house; Leeds adds:
- Leeds says access from an A, B or C road, or across land that is not highway, needs approval from planning services. (LCC vehicle crossing page)
Questions
Does Leeds refund the fee if it refuses?
No. The £55.06 is not refunded, so check the frontage against the rules first.
Can I use my own contractor in Leeds?
You hire a New Roads and Street Works Act accredited contractor, who applies for a Section 171 licence to dig in the highway.
Related
- Check your driveway in 3DEvery rule for your council, in 3D.
- Dropped kerb rules comparedDepth, width, splays, junctions, trees.
- What it costsFees from £55.06 to £500, and the works.
- Sheffield rules and fees£220 to apply, a space 5 m deep.
- Manchester rules and feesNo fee published; from £1,575, a space 4.8 m deep.
- Lancashire rules and fees£290 to apply, a space 4.8 m deep.
Sources: Leeds City Council, Request a vehicle crossing outside your house; all read on 11 October 2026. National rules: Highways Act 1980, s.184, GPDO 2015, Part 2 Class B and Part 1 Class F. legislation.gov.uk and GOV.UK content is used under the Open Government Licence v3.0; council figures are quoted as facts with their source, not copied text. Not legal advice and not a decision: the council decides after its own site visit. Not affiliated with any council or government department.