Dropped kerbs in the UK: rules, costs and how to apply
Find your council's dropped kerb fee, who's allowed to build it and how to apply, all checked on the council's own website. 39 highway authorities covered so far; fees from £52 to £568.
Who builds your dropped kerb? Council map
- You choose a qualified contractor
- Council or your own contractor
- Council's own contractor list only
- Council builds it
- Not yet checked
- Northern Ireland: DfI Roads, not covered yet
Or use the A to Z list of councils below.
Pick your area
Enter your postcode or tap your area on the map to see who builds dropped kerbs there, the council's fee and the official link.
Postcode lookups use the free postcodes.io service. Your postcode isn't stored by us.
Only councils we've checked on their own website are coloured. Grey areas link to the official council page instead of showing figures. Boundaries: ONS Counties and Unitary Authorities (December 2025), simplified.
What does a dropped kerb cost?
Council fee
£52 to £568
Application or licence fees across the 39 councils we've checked (median £232). Many aren't refundable.
Building it
£1,000 to £3,500
Typical prices councils publish for a standard crossing, e.g. Kent £1,000 to £2,500, Lancashire £2,000 to £3,500.
Extras
Up to £3,000+
Moving lamp posts, signs or parking restrictions (Devon: up to £3,000). Utility diversions can cost far more.
Work out your cost Compare council fees
How the process works
- Check you qualify: usually 4.8 to 5 m of depth and away from junctions. Two-minute checker.
- Planning permission if you're on an A, B or C road, in a flat, or laying a non-porous drive. Do I need it?
- Apply to your highway authority and pay its fee. How to apply.
- Council inspects: 2 to 12 weeks, depending on the council.
- Built by the council, a contractor from its list, or your own qualified contractor. Who builds it?
Who builds your dropped kerb?
24
Any qualified contractor
Your own qualified contractor
5
Council or your contractor
Council or your own qualified contractor
4
Council's own list only
Only contractors on the council's own list
6
Council builds
The council builds it
Out of the 39 highway authorities we've checked so far (as of 3 October 2026). It isn't a random sample of the UK.
Guides and tools
Depth, junctions, trees, width Application timeline
How long each stage takes Printable checklist
Everything to have ready Widening a dropped kerb
Extension rules and fees Contractors
Qualifications, insurance, checks EV charging cable channels
New rules from 21 October 2026
Your next steps
Check your own council's rules first, then make sure your property qualifies before you apply.
Find your council Can I get a dropped kerb? Printable checklist