Who can build your dropped kerb? Contractor rules by council

Whether you can choose your own dropped kerb contractor depends entirely on your council. Here's how it works in each type of area, what qualifications a contractor needs, and how to check them.

Check your council first Printable checklist

Can you use your own contractor?

Your own qualified contractor

Most councils we've checked. Once the council approves your application, you hire any contractor who meets its requirements. Examples: Bristol, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Cornwall, Derbyshire, Devon.

Council or your own

The council will quote to build it, or you can use your own qualified contractor. Examples: BCP, Coventry, Derby, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire.

Council's own list only

You must pick from the council's own list of contractors. Examples: Lancashire, North Yorkshire, Southend-on-Sea, Surrey. In Lancashire your own builder can apply to join the list.

Council builds it

You can't use your own contractor for the crossing: the council builds it and you pay its quote. Examples: Birmingham, Bradford, Hertfordshire, Kingston upon Thames, Manchester, Thurrock. You can still use your own builder for the driveway.

Be wary of "council approved" claims. Most councils we've checked don't keep an approved list for homeowner crossings. Kent, Essex, Hampshire, Staffordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Southampton and Nottingham City all say so in one way or another. Nottingham City Council specifically warns about firms claiming to be "council approved". Only a few councils, such as Lancashire, Surrey, North Yorkshire and Southend-on-Sea, keep their own list.

What qualifications should a dropped kerb contractor have?

Street works qualifications (NRSWA). Digging up the pavement is "street works" under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. The Act requires a qualified operative on site at all times, and the site must be supervised by a qualified supervisor, who doesn't have to be on site all the time. Qualifications are recorded on the Street Works Qualifications Register (SWQR), which issues a street works card. Each certificate lasts 5 years. The key certificates include LA plus O1 for operatives and LA plus S1 for supervisors (GOV.UK).

Public liability insurance. Councils set different minimums:

Minimum public liability insurance	Councils
£2m	Sheffield
£5m	Bristol, Cornwall, Coventry, Derby, Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, Kent, North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Plymouth, Staffordshire, Suffolk
£10m	Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hampshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Oxfordshire, Southampton

Other councils don't publish a minimum on the pages we checked.

A licence or permit for the job. Many councils make the contractor get their own licence before digging: a Section 171 licence (for example Hampshire, Leeds, Plymouth, BCP), a construction licence (West Sussex), a permit to dig (Staffordshire) or a road opening notice (Essex, Southampton). Hampshire tells homeowners to ask to see the licence before work starts.

How to check a contractor before you hire them

Ask for their street works cards (operative and supervisor) and check the names and expiry dates.
Ask for the insurance certificate and check it meets your council's minimum. Hampshire's £10 million must indemnify both you and the council.
Check they'll get the licence or permit your council requires, in their name, before work starts.
Get at least three written quotes. West Sussex, Gloucestershire and Cornwall all recommend this.
Use council-run trader schemes. Kent points to its Trading Standards Checked directory; Hampshire, Devon and Southampton suggest the Government's Buy With Confidence scheme.
Don't pay for or start work before you have written council permission. Gloucestershire tells you not to book the contractor until it confirms the dates.

What does a contractor charge?

Council-published figures for building a standard crossing include £1,000 to £2,500 (Kent), £1,500 to £3,000 (Devon), £2,000 to £3,500 (Lancashire) and around £1,500 (Leeds). See the full cost breakdown and calculator.

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

Sources (official, checked 3 October 2026)