How much does a dropped kerb cost?

Two costs: council fees (£47 to £830 in total across the 78 councils we've checked) and building the crossing (councils publish about £1,000 to £3,500 for a standard one). Pick your council for a sourced estimate.

Dropped kerb cost calculator

Your councilNot listed? Find your council.

Dropped kerbs (not counting the 2 tapers)

Pavement or verge depth to cross (m)From the kerb to your boundary. Lancashire's standard example uses 2 m.

Driveway surface Permeable, or drains into the garden Solid (non-porous), over 5 m² Already have a driveway

Anything in the way? Lamp post, sign or street furniture Road drain (gully) Utility covers or cables Parking bay or yellow line I'm on an A, B or C road

Choose your council to see its fee and an estimate.

The two parts of the cost

1. Council fees. The homeowner application fee runs from £47 (Bolton) to £568 (Devon) among the councils we've checked. Some councils add other fees, such as a second payment on approval or a licence or permit for your contractor (for example Leeds £345.90, West Sussex £309, Leicestershire £240, Essex £150, Nottinghamshire £80). Added together, total council fees run from £47 (Bolton) to £830 (Redbridge), counting councils that publish every fee and are taking applications.

2. Building the crossing. The kerbs are lowered, and the pavement from the kerb to your boundary is dug out and rebuilt strong enough for a car. Councils that publish prices put a standard crossing at roughly £1,000 to £3,500:

Council	Who builds	What the council publishes
BCP	Council or your contractor	BCP gives a guide price of £2,000 for a standard crossover of 3 dropped kerbs and 2 tapers; each quote is priced individually.
Birmingham	Council builds	Priced individually after inspection (size, materials, labour, traffic management, trees and street lighting), plus a £375 administration fee.
Bolton	Council builds	Bolton publishes typical costs for a new crossing with no cover alterations: £1301 (5 kerbstones, footway up to 2.5 m) to £1970 (9 kerbstones), or £1560 to £2303 for footways of 2.5 to 3.0 m. Adjusting an Openreach/Virgin box costs £2252.
Bradford	Council builds	Bradford charges £1,995 plus VAT for a standard crossing and £1,596 plus VAT for an extension.
Brent	Council builds	Brent sends an estimate with a breakdown of costs if your application is approved.
Central Bedfordshire	Council builds	Central Bedfordshire prices each dropped kerb case by case (size, materials, obstacles), and requires full payment before works start.
Coventry	Council or your contractor	If approved, Coventry gives an estimated cost of construction, valid for three months.
Derby	Council or your contractor	Option 2: Derby City Council gives a quote (valid six weeks) to build it.
Devon	Any qualified contractor	Devon says the work will probably cost somewhere between £1,500 and £3,000, more if obstructions or restrictions need moving.
Dudley	Council or your contractor	Dudley says a typical 5-kerb crossing with a 1.7 m footway is approximately £2500, not including alterations to services or traffic management (a legal closure is £1762.50; traffic signals £412.50).
Ealing	Council builds	Ealing says an average dropped kerb costs roughly £1,500 to build, depending on size and any obstructions such as trees or lamp posts.
Enfield	Council builds	Enfield charges £339 per square metre to build a vehicle crossover (£271 per square metre during a planned footway reconstruction scheme; £52 per square metre extra on a traffic sensitive street).
Hertfordshire	Council builds	Hertfordshire gives a quote for the full work after a successful assessment (its page has an estimate tool).
Kent	Any qualified contractor	Kent says contractors' prices can vary from £1,000 to £2,500.
Kingston upon Thames	Council builds	Kingston says the maximum 4 m dropped kerb costs about £1,800; costs vary with the footway and materials.
Lancashire	Council's own list only	Lancashire says quotations are currently between £2,000 and £3,500 for a standard crossing (4.5 m wide at the kerb face, 2.5 m vehicle width, on a footpath normally 2 m wide).
Leeds	Any qualified contractor	Leeds says a standard crossing usually costs around £1,500.
Leicestershire	Council or your contractor	If approved, Leicestershire's decision letter includes a quote for the work.
Lincolnshire	Council or your contractor	If the council builds it, Lincolnshire estimates construction at £2,500 to £3,500, priced on your property's needs.
Manchester	Council builds	Manchester says the minimum new dropped kerb is roughly 3 m, with a starting cost of £1,575 including up to 2 m towards the property. Wider crossings, verges and obstructions cost more.
Newcastle	Council builds	Newcastle says the average standard single crossing costs around £1,600 (no VAT) and a double around £2,200 (no VAT), depending on footpath materials and size. Moving streetlights, utility cabinets or street furniture costs extra.
North Yorkshire	Council's own list only	North Yorkshire can also quote to build it: a quote costs £102.36, and it says typical construction costs are around £2,000 plus a 10% admin fee.
Sandwell	Council builds	Sandwell says a typical quotation for a standard dropped kerb (two taper kerbs and three flat kerbs) is in the region of £1,300 to £1,800, based on footpaths 1.8 m to 2.0 m wide. Wider footpaths, traffic management, Sunday working or moving trees, street furniture or utility boxes cost more.
Sefton	Council builds	Sefton's 2026 policy says a typical dropped crossing might cost £1500 to £2000 plus fees; wide verges or moving street furniture cost more. You pay the full sum in advance.
Southend-on-Sea	Council's own list only	Southend's 2026/27 charge for building a domestic crossing is £255 per square metre.
Stockport	Council or your contractor	Stockport says the average single-width dropped kerb (around 2.4 m) costs £1,500; moving a street lamp 1.5 m costs about £2,000, and removing and replacing a street tree about £5,000. The council prices the work at the assessment.
Surrey	Council's own list only	Surrey says building costs average roughly £1,800, depending on the work and the contractor.
Thurrock	Council builds	Thurrock's construction rate is £264 per square metre (2025/26 figure on its page), so an average standard crossing costs around £1,900.
Walsall	Council or your contractor	Walsall's guide prices if its contractor builds it: a standard crossing of 3 dropped kerbs + 2 tapers costs approx £1,750.00 (footway 1.5 to 2.0 m) or £2,000 (2.0 to 2.5 m); extending by 2 kerbs + 1 taper is approx £1,050.00 to £1,200.00. Traffic management, Sunday working or moving utility cabinets or street furniture cost extra.
Wandsworth	Council builds	Wandsworth charges a fixed £2,311 for a standard domestic vehicle access for up to two cars in grey bricks (price fixed for three months from approval). Larger accesses or those in conservation areas get a detailed estimate.
West Sussex	Any qualified contractor	West Sussex's guidance says construction can vary between £1,000 and over £4,000, and moving streetlights or street furniture could be significantly over £2,000.
Wigan	Council builds	Wigan's estimator prices a new crossing at £188 per metre of driveway width plus £188 per metre for transition kerbs, £92 per square metre for any grass verge and £56 per metre of edging kerbs, plus an £80 administration charge. A utility service box in the way can add an estimated £6,000 (set by the provider).
Worcestershire	Council builds	Worcestershire quotes from published prices: £90.57 per kerb and £157.02 per square metre of new construction. It says a standard installation (5 kerbs, 1.5 m wide footway or verge) costs approximately £1433.74 plus VAT, for works completed by 31 March 2027. Moving utility covers, lamp posts or street furniture costs extra.

Dropped kerb fees by council: league table

Every row was checked on the council's own website on 3 October 2026. Select a column heading to sort. Fees aren't always like-for-like: some are partly refundable, Devon's licence is applied for by your contractor, and where councils build it themselves the fees are only the start of the price.

Dropped kerb council fees by council: homeowner application fee, other council fees and total council fees. Select a column heading to sort.
Council	Homeowner application fee	Other council fees (e.g. contractor licence/permit, where published)	Total council fees	What the fees cover / refunds	Who builds	Contractor requirements	Valid for	Decision time	Published build cost (not included in fees)	Source	Last checked
Bolton	£47	None published	£47	Non-refundable site inspection fee. If you go ahead with the works, it's deducted from the overall cost.	Council builds	Council builds	–	–	Bolton publishes typical costs for a new crossing with no cover alterations: £1301 (5 kerbstones, footway up to 2.5 m) to £1970 (9 kerbstones), or £1560 to £2303 for footways of 2.5 to 3.0 m. Adjusting an Openreach/Virgin box costs £2252.	Council page	3 October 2026
Portsmouth	£66 Administration fee (both routes)	None published	£66	Administration fee for processing the application form, including VAT. Colas sets the charge for the dropped kerb itself when processing the application. If Colas builds it: the £66 fee, then Colas's charge.	Council or your contractor	Colas (the council's highway contractor), or a private contractor whose works Colas approves	–	–	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Ealing	£75	None published	£75	Non-refundable application fee, paid by card when you apply.	Council builds	Council builds	–	6 weeks (aim)	Ealing says an average dropped kerb costs roughly £1,500 to build, depending on size and any obstructions such as trees or lamp posts.	Council page	3 October 2026
Dudley	£114.18 Survey fee to start a request	None published	£114.18	Non-refundable survey fee paid in advance to start a request; the council then sends a quotation. If you appoint your own contractor, they need a £910 Section 184 licence instead (the page doesn't say whether the survey fee also applies). With your own contractor: your contractor needs a £910 Section 184 licence (Dudley doesn't say whether the survey fee also applies).	Council or your contractor	£5m public liability. Section 184 Road Opening Licence (£910, including after-work inspection and two annual inspections); Public liability insurance (£5 million minimum)	–	–	Dudley says a typical 5-kerb crossing with a 1.7 m footway is approximately £2500, not including alterations to services or traffic management (a legal closure is £1762.50; traffic signals £412.50).	Council page	3 October 2026
Bradford	£120	None published	£120	Applications paused. Application fee: non-refundable if approved; £60 refunded if refused.	Council builds	Council builds	–	28 working days	Bradford charges £1,995 plus VAT for a standard crossing and £1,596 plus VAT for an extension.	Council page	3 October 2026
Brent	£126	None published	£126	Non-refundable administration fee for providing each estimate, payable on application.	Council builds	Council builds	–	–	Brent sends an estimate with a breakdown of costs if your application is approved.	Council page	3 October 2026
BCP	£130	Section 171 licence if you use your own contractor: amount not published	£130 + an unpublished fee	Application and site inspection fee. Not refunded if you're refused, decide to use your own contractor, or don't go ahead. If BCP builds it: the £130 fee, then BCP's quote.	Council or your contractor	Street works accredited; A Section 171 licence to work on the highway	6 months (quote)	–	BCP gives a guide price of £2,000 for a standard crossover of 3 dropped kerbs and 2 tapers; each quote is priced individually.	Council page	3 October 2026
Nottinghamshire	£52	Contractor consent fee (paid by your contractor): £80	£132	Non-refundable charge for the initial assessment by Via (on behalf of the county council). Your contractor then pays £80 for consent to do the work.	Any qualified contractor	£5m public liability. A valid Streetworks qualification; At least £5 million public liability insurance	6 months	–	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Cheshire West and Chester	£139	None published	£139	Non-refundable charge per application, covering assessment and administration.	Any qualified contractor	Public liability insurance certificate; Streetworks accreditation certificate	–	Around 5 working days	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Hertfordshire	£139	None published	£139	Assessment fee to apply for a quote. Refundable within a 14-day cooling-off period, non-refundable after that.	Council builds	Council builds	–	8 weeks (aim)	Hertfordshire gives a quote for the full work after a successful assessment (its page has an estimate tool).	Council page	3 October 2026
Leicester	£50	Second payment if your application is approved: £100	£150	£50 non-refundable application fee, plus a second non-refundable £100 payment if approved.	Any qualified contractor	Accepted by Leicester City Council for your job before work begins	6 months after contractor acceptance	12 weeks	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Rhondda Cynon Taf	£152	None published	£152	Non-refundable admin fee, even if the application is denied. Paid by card with the online application.	Council or your contractor	Builder or contractor details, with insurance and indemnity policies, sent to the council on forms VC2 to VC5	12 months	–	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Central Bedfordshire	£156	None published	£156	Non-refundable fee per application to determine whether a dropped kerb is possible, including a site inspection. If acceptable, you get a written quotation for the works.	Council builds	Council builds	–	–	Central Bedfordshire prices each dropped kerb case by case (size, materials, obstacles), and requires full payment before works start.	Council page	3 October 2026
Derbyshire	£160	None published	£160	Non-refundable charge for inspection and administration, paid by you or your contractor within 7 days of the payment link.	Any qualified contractor	£5m public liability. Personnel qualified under the New Roads and Street Works Act accreditation scheme; At least £5 million public liability insurance	3 months	Up to 8 weeks	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Croydon	£163.60	None published	£163.60	Non-refundable application fee covering processing and a site inspection. It doesn't cover building the crossover, and isn't refunded if your property doesn't meet the criteria.	Council builds	Council builds	–	–	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Hillingdon	£164	None published	£164	Non-refundable administration fee for resident applications (£180 for non-residents), even if refused.	Council builds	Council builds	–	10 to 15 working days (aim)	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Southampton	£165	Road Opening Licence for your contractor: amount not published	£165 + an unpublished fee	Non-refundable fee (including VAT) for administration, assessment and a site visit.	Any qualified contractor	£10m public liability. New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 accreditation; £10 million public liability insurance	–	About 4 weeks	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Nottingham	£170	None published	£170	Section 184 licence fee, after a pre-application enquiry.	Any qualified contractor	Suitably qualified (the council checks the details once you name them); Works need a valid Section 184 licence	–	–	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
County Durham	£171	None published	£171	Licence fee, paid once you have a contractor organised and before any work starts. If your application is unsuccessful, no fee is charged.	Council's own list only	Must be registered with Durham County Council; Gives at least seven days' notice so the council can issue a street works permit (no charge)	–	–	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Warwickshire	£174	None published	£174	Non-refundable fee per application, covering administration and inspections. Retrospective applications cost £261 (non-refundable).	Any qualified contractor	£10m public liability. Public liability insurance of at least £10m; Accredited under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 to work in the public highway	2 years	Usually 10 working days after payment	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Derby	£175 Option 1, with a private contractor	None published	£175	Non-refundable processing fee if you use a private contractor (Option 1). Option 2: Derby City Council quotes to build it.	Council or your contractor	£5m public liability. £5 million public liability insurance (copy with your application); Supervisors and operatives accredited on the Street Works Qualification Register	–	–	Option 2: Derby City Council gives a quote (valid six weeks) to build it.	Council page	3 October 2026
Kingston upon Thames	£183.86	None published	£183.86	Inspection fee, not refunded if the application is rejected (refundable to Blue Badge holders if refused).	Council builds	Council builds	3 years	–	Kingston says the maximum 4 m dropped kerb costs about £1,800; costs vary with the footway and materials.	Council page	3 October 2026
Wirral	£195 With your own contractor (residential)	None published	£195	£195 supervision fee for a residential crossing if you use your own contractor (£295 commercial). If the council builds it, an £85 estimate and survey fee, deducted from the total cost if you go ahead. If Wirral's contractor builds it: £85 estimate and survey fee, deducted from the council's price.	Council or your contractor	£5m public liability. Relevant Street Works accreditation; Public liability insurance of £5 million	–	–	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Sefton	£50	Administration fee for the work (included with the council's quote): £149	£199	£50 fee for providing the quote, plus a £149 fee for administering the work (from April 2026), on top of the installation cost.	Council builds	Council builds	–	–	Sefton's 2026 policy says a typical dropped crossing might cost £1500 to £2000 plus fees; wide verges or moving street furniture cost more. You pay the full sum in advance.	Council page	3 October 2026
Edinburgh	£210 Footway dropped crossing permit, per location	None published	£210	Footway dropped crossing permit, per location (2026/27). A 25% surcharge applies to applications made inside the 10-working-day minimum notice period.	Any qualified contractor	NRSWA accreditation certificate for the works supervisor; NRSWA accreditation certificates for the operatives	–	Minimum notice 10 working days	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Hampshire	£211.90	None published	£211.90	Non-refundable application fee. Optional Fast Track adds £97 (total £308.90) for a decision within two weeks. Optional Fast Track: +£97 for a decision within two weeks.	Any qualified contractor	£10m public liability. £10 million public liability insurance, indemnifying you and Hampshire County Council; Operatives and supervisors accredited under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 codes of practice	12 months	8 weeks (aim); 2 weeks Fast Track	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Sheffield	£220	None published	£220	Domestic application fee (light industrial £230). Online payment only.	Any qualified contractor	£2m public liability. Street Works qualifications; £2 million public liability insurance	–	About 10 weeks	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Stockport	£220.48 Assessment fee (both routes)	Section 50 permit if you use your own contractor: amount not published	£220.48 + an unpublished fee	Assessment fee. If your request can't be approved and you make the changes the assessor suggests, the re-assessment is free. If the council builds it: the assessment fee, then the council's quote.	Council or your contractor	A Section 50 permit to work on the highway (if you use your own contractor)	–	–	Stockport says the average single-width dropped kerb (around 2.4 m) costs £1,500; moving a street lamp 1.5 m costs about £2,000, and removing and replacing a street tree about £5,000. The council prices the work at the assessment.	Council page	3 October 2026
Plymouth	£104	Conditional approval fee: £128; Section 171 highway permit for your contractor: amount not published	£232 + an unpublished fee	£104 application fee plus a £128 conditional approval fee if approved. Neither is refundable.	Any qualified contractor	£5m public liability. £5 million public liability insurance; Supervisor and operative accredited under NRSWA 1991	–	6 to 8 weeks	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Oxfordshire	£250 Residential access on an unclassified road	None published	£250	£250 for a residential access on an unclassified road; £400 on a classified road. Paid by BACS with the emailed application form. £400 on a classified (A, B or C) road.	Any qualified contractor	£10m public liability. Relevant Streetworks qualifications; £10 million public liability insurance	12 months	–	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Sandwell	£250	None published	£250	Non-refundable inspection fee paid when you apply. It isn't deducted from the quotation.	Council builds	Council builds	Quotation valid for 6 months	Quotation usually within ten working days of the inspection	Sandwell says a typical quotation for a standard dropped kerb (two taper kerbs and three flat kerbs) is in the region of £1,300 to £1,800, based on footpaths 1.8 m to 2.0 m wide. Wider footpaths, traffic management, Sunday working or moving trees, street furniture or utility boxes cost more.	Council page	3 October 2026
Havering	£261	None published	£261	Non-refundable application fee when you apply for the council to build a dropped kerb. The council then inspects and sends you a quote for the works.	Council builds	Council builds	Quotes are valid for three months	–	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Coventry	£200 With your own contractor	NRSWA permit (paid by your contractor): £75	£275	£130 if the council's contractor builds it (non-refundable). £200 if you use your own external contractor (£100 of it non-refundable). External contractors also need a £75 NRSWA permit. If Coventry's own contractor builds it: £130 application fee, then the council's estimate.	Council or your contractor	£5m public liability. Public liability insurance of at least £5,000,000; Supervisors' and operatives' NRSWA Streetworks qualification cards	–	–	If approved, Coventry gives an estimated cost of construction, valid for three months.	Council page	3 October 2026
Lancashire	£290	None published	£290	Paid when you apply. Half (£145) is refunded if the application is unsuccessful.	Council's own list only	Must be on Lancashire's approved contractor list (your own builder can apply to join); Works under a Section 171 licence, which is free when your approval code is used	–	28 days (aim)	Lancashire says quotations are currently between £2,000 and £3,500 for a standard crossing (4.5 m wide at the kerb face, 2.5 m vehicle width, on a footpath normally 2 m wide).	Council page	3 October 2026
South Gloucestershire	£96.90	Specification of works and consents fee (if the inspector agrees): £193.50	£290.40	£96.90 for the initial site visit when you register your request, then £193.50 for the specification of works and consents if the inspector agrees.	Any qualified contractor	Accredited under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991; Works to South Gloucestershire's specification	–	–	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Wandsworth	£299	None published	£299	Application fee, paid in full when you apply.	Council builds	Council builds	–	Within 4 weeks	Wandsworth charges a fixed £2,311 for a standard domestic vehicle access for up to two cars in grey bricks (price fixed for three months from approval). Larger accesses or those in conservation areas get a detailed estimate.	Council page	3 October 2026
Newham	£300	None published	£300	Non-refundable application fee for a residential property (£1,250 for commercial or industrial), not refunded if the application is rejected.	Council builds	Council builds	–	–	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Southend-on-Sea	£300	None published	£300	Non-refundable application fee (£325 if the crossover crosses a watercourse or ditch). Construction is charged at £255 per m² for a domestic crossing.	Council's own list only	Southend's own authorised contractors only	–	–	Southend's 2026/27 charge for building a domestic crossing is £255 per square metre.	Council page	3 October 2026
Enfield	£301	None published	£301	Non-refundable application fee (free for Blue Badge holders). It includes up to 3 site visits; extra visits cost £65 per half hour.	Council builds	Council builds	–	6 weeks	Enfield charges £339 per square metre to build a vehicle crossover (£271 per square metre during a planned footway reconstruction scheme; £52 per square metre extra on a traffic sensitive street).	Council page	3 October 2026
Gloucestershire	£105	Part 2 fee (with the works certificate): £205	£310	Total, paid in two parts: £105 (non-refundable) with Part 1, then £205 with Part 2. Extra site visits £125 each. Fee in force from 1 April 2025.	Any qualified contractor	£5m public liability. Valid New Roads and Street Works accreditations; Public liability insurance of at least £5 million	12 months	–	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
North Yorkshire	£310.20	None published	£310.20	Domestic dropped kerb licence fee.	Council's own list only	£5m public liability. Must be on North Yorkshire's approved contractor list; Approved contractors hold £5 million public liability insurance and are on the Street Works Qualification Register	–	–	North Yorkshire can also quote to build it: a quote costs £102.36, and it says typical construction costs are around £2,000 plus a 10% admin fee.	Council page	3 October 2026
West Northamptonshire	£330	None published	£330	Licence and inspection fee. Don't pay it until the licence is being applied for; it can be paid by you or by your contractor.	Council's own list only	Must be on West Northamptonshire Council's list of approved contractors; Obtains the documents the council requires; the licence is issued to the contractor	–	Up to 28 days	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
North Northamptonshire	£333	None published	£333	Licence and inspection fee. Don't pay it until the licence is being applied for; it can be paid by you or by your contractor.	Council's own list only	Must be on North Northamptonshire Council's list of approved contractors; Obtains the documents the council requires; the licence is issued to the contractor	–	Up to 28 days	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Bristol	£357	None published	£357	Combined excavation (Section 171) and vehicle crossover (Section 184) licence for a domestic crossover. A retrospective licence costs £536.	Any qualified contractor	£5m public liability. Public liability insurance of at least £5 million; All operatives NPORS or SWQR qualified under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991	–	–	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Essex	£210.18	Road Opening Notice (paid by your contractor): £150	£360.18	Non-refundable initial application fee (covers the site visit, a search for underground apparatus and admin). If approved, your contractor pays £150 for the Road Opening Notice. Vehicle crossing fees carry no VAT.	Any qualified contractor	£10m public liability. Valid £10 million public liability insurance; All site workers NRSWA-accredited to Operative level, with at least one Supervisor-level person on site or available at any time	6 months	Several weeks after consent	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Thurrock	£375	None published	£375	Paid upfront. £300 is returned if the application is refused; £150 is returned if it's approved and the crossing is built to standard.	Council builds	Council builds	–	–	Thurrock's construction rate is £264 per square metre (2025/26 figure on its page), so an average standard crossing costs around £1,900.	Council page	3 October 2026
Surrey	£383	None published	£383	Non-refundable Stage 1 application fee. Covers the site assessment, marking out, utility searches, managing the works and the final inspection. A re-mark costs £116.	Council's own list only	Must be one of Surrey County Council's procured approved contractors	6 months	20 working days	Surrey says building costs average roughly £1,800, depending on the work and the contractor.	Council page	3 October 2026
Somerset	£388.30	None published	£388.30	Non-refundable fee for a Section 184 vehicle crossing licence (administration and site inspection).	Any qualified contractor	Accredited to work on the highway (Somerset's wording)	3 months	–	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Leeds	£55.06	Section 171 licence (paid by your contractor): £345.90	£400.96	Non-refundable site inspection fee. Your contractor then pays £345.90 for a Section 171 licence.	Any qualified contractor	NRSWA accreditation; Section 171 licence (£345.90) before excavating	–	–	Leeds says a standard crossing usually costs around £1,500.	Council page	3 October 2026
East Sussex	£147	Phase 2 construction licence (your contractor applies): £265	£412	Phase 1 homeowner licence fee (licence valid 6 months). Fees are paid in advance and aren't refunded, including if you're refused.	Council's own list only	£10m public liability. Registered with Trading Standards' Buy With Confidence scheme (on East Sussex Highways' approved list); NRSWA accredited	6 months	Up to 8 weeks	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Cambridgeshire	£414	None published	£414	Covers all inspection fees (no VAT). £314 is refunded if the application is unsuccessful.	Any qualified contractor	Street works accredited	–	6 weeks	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Cornwall	£438	None published	£438	Standard vehicle crossing licence. Licence fees are reviewed every year and new fees apply from 1 April.	Any qualified contractor	£5m public liability. Streetworks Supervisor and Operative qualifications; Public liability insurance of at least £5 million	–	At least 6 weeks	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Medway	£450	None published	£450	Application fee for the site visit, inspection and outcome; not refunded if you're declined. With paid pre-application advice (£165, non-refundable), a successful applicant pays a reduced £285 to apply. With pre-application advice: £165, then a reduced £285 application fee if favourable.	Council's own list only	Medway's term contractor (Volker Highways) or a contractor on Medway's approved list	–	Most within 14 days of the site visit	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Suffolk	£450	None published	£450	Non-refundable application fee. Pre-application advice (for borderline cases) costs £225.	Any qualified contractor	£5m public liability. New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 qualified supervisors and operatives; Public liability insurance of at least £5,000,000	1 year	20 working days	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Lincolnshire	£470 With a third-party contractor	None published	£470	£300 for a new light-duty application if the council builds it (removing an existing kerb: £125). £470 for a new domestic access if a third-party contractor builds it (£235 for extensions up to 2 m). If the council builds it: £300 application fee, then the council's price.	Council or your contractor	£10m public liability. Public liability insurance of at least £10 million; NRSWA accreditation for all operatives	–	10 working days (response)	If the council builds it, Lincolnshire estimates construction at £2,500 to £3,500, priced on your property's needs.	Council page	3 October 2026
Birmingham	£125	Administration fee (included in the council's quote): £375	£500	Non-refundable application (inspection) fee on Birmingham's cost page (updated 1 April 2026). The quote also includes a £375 administration fee. Birmingham's older application page (updated 10 December 2025) still shows £113, so confirm the amount when you pay. Birmingham's older application page still shows a £113 application fee.	Council builds	Council builds	Application open 1 year after inspection	Quote within 28 working days of inspection	Priced individually after inspection (size, materials, labour, traffic management, trees and street lighting), plus a £375 administration fee.	Council page	3 October 2026
Cheshire East	£170	Section 171 excavation licence (your contractor applies): £330	£500	Non-refundable application fee, paid by card with the online form. Your contractor also needs a Section 171 licence to book the road space and excavate. Fast Track excavation licence: £380.	Any qualified contractor	£5m public liability. Full details of qualifications and insurance submitted to the council for permission; Section 171 licence before any work (the contractor applies)	–	–	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Kent	£500	None published	£500	Application fee. Extra inspections cost £76 each (for a new access point, or a dropped kerb near a tree or street light). £231 is refunded if the application is declined.	Any qualified contractor	£5m public liability. NRSWA accreditation for excavation and reinstatement; £5 million public liability insurance	2 years	28 days (aim)	Kent says contractors' prices can vary from £1,000 to £2,500.	Council page	3 October 2026
Buckinghamshire	£520.38	None published	£520.38	Vehicular access licence fee.	Any qualified contractor	£10m public liability. £10 million public liability insurance; NRSWA accreditation (operative and supervisor cards, front and back)	2 weeks (works window)	Up to 28 days	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
West Sussex	£215	Construction licence (your contractor applies): £309	£524	Non-refundable assessment fee. Your contractor then pays £309 for the construction licence.	Any qualified contractor	Competent, insured and qualified (West Sussex's wording); Applies for the £309 construction licence	6 months	–	West Sussex's guidance says construction can vary between £1,000 and over £4,000, and moving streetlights or street furniture could be significantly over £2,000.	Council page	3 October 2026
Leicestershire	£300	Permit fee (if you use your own contractor): £240	£540	Non-refundable application fee. If you use your own contractor, there's also a £240 permit fee. If the council builds it: the £300 fee, then its quote.	Council or your contractor	£10m public liability. £10 million public liability insurance; A current New Roads and Street Works accreditation card	6 months	About 6 weeks	If approved, Leicestershire's decision letter includes a quote for the work.	Council page	3 October 2026
Shropshire	£470	Road space booking application (your contractor submits it): £70	£540	Vehicle access dropped kerb fee for a single residential property (2026/27). Not refundable, even if you're refused. It includes the council's inspections during and after the works; Shropshire says fees may vary with the complexity of the application.	Any qualified contractor	Accreditation and public liability insurance registered with Shropshire Council; Submits a Road Space Booking Form with dates and traffic management	3 years	–	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Lambeth	£396	Utilities search fee: £150	£546	£396 non-refundable fee for the highway area engineer's inspection, paid when you apply. After planning permission or a Certificate of Lawfulness, a £150 utilities search fee (2026/27 form).	Council builds	Council builds	–	–	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Devon	£568 Licence applied for by your contractor on your behalf	None published	£568	Licence fee. Your contractor applies for the licence on your behalf.	Any qualified contractor	Applies for the licence on your behalf	–	–	Devon says the work will probably cost somewhere between £1,500 and £3,000, more if obstructions or restrictions need moving.	Council page	3 October 2026
Wakefield	£171.36	Contribution fee (listed on the online form): £510	£681.36	Non-refundable £171.36 application fee. Wakefield's online request form also lists a £510 contribution fee; payments are taken upfront and are non-refundable.	Any qualified contractor	Valid Street Works cards: supervisor (blue) and operative (yellow), with hot/cold lay tarmac and modular reinstatement modules, or a combined (white) card; Public liability insurance	–	–	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Walsall	£170 With your own contractor	Road opening permit with a private contractor: £540	£710	Non-refundable £170 assessment fee for all applicants, then a road opening permit: £540 with a private contractor, or £140 if Walsall's contractor (Tarmac) builds it. The assessment fee is waived where planning permission is needed, but a planning fee applies instead. If Walsall's contractor (Tarmac) builds it: £170 assessment, £140 permit, then Tarmac's quote.	Council or your contractor	£5m public liability. Public liability insurance (minimum £5 million); NRSWA qualifications and certificates	–	Within three weeks	Walsall's guide prices if its contractor builds it: a standard crossing of 3 dropped kerbs + 2 tapers costs approx £1,750.00 (footway 1.5 to 2.0 m) or £2,000 (2.0 to 2.5 m); extending by 2 kerbs + 1 taper is approx £1,050.00 to £1,200.00. Traffic management, Sunday working or moving utility cabinets or street furniture cost extra.	Council page	3 October 2026
Brighton and Hove	£182.60	Stage 2 fee (if permission is granted): £545.60	£728.20	Two-stage process: £182.60 stage 1 fee when you apply, then £545.60 stage 2 fee if permission is granted. Both are non-refundable and rise every 1 April.	Any qualified contractor	£10m public liability. New Roads and Street Works Act accreditation at both Operative and Supervisor levels; Public liability insurance of at least £10 million	–	About 6 to 8 weeks	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Milton Keynes	£237	Private Opening Licence and inspections (your contractor applies): £537	£774	Non-refundable residential application fee, paid in full before the site visit and assessment (£1,000 for commercial, industrial or agricultural).	Any qualified contractor	NRSWA (New Roads and Street Works Act) or Streetworks qualification; A Private Opening Licence from the council (£537)	–	–	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Redbridge	£454	Legal agreement (if approved): £376	£830	£454 non-refundable application and inspection fee. If approved, you also pay £376 for the legal agreement (that your vehicle won't overhang the footway). Revising a quotation costs £130.	Council builds	Council builds	–	–	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Glasgow	See Book of Charges	None published	Not published	Glasgow says costs are in its Book of Charges, but the 2026/27 road permit and road traffic charge pages we checked don't list a footway crossing fee. Ask the council.	Any qualified contractor	A private civil engineering contractor, subject to the council's approval for the job	–	–	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Hull	Not published	None published	Not published	Hull's page and 2026 information pack don't publish a council fee for homeowners. Your chosen contractor prices the design and all works on the highway, and obtains the council's permit.	Council's own list only	Must be on Hull City Council's approved contractor list; Obtains a permit from the council before construction	–	–	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Manchester	No separate fee listed	None published	Not published	Manchester's pages don't list a separate application fee. After assessment the council tells you the cost of the job, which you pay before it starts work.	Council builds	Council builds	90 days after approval and cost	–	Manchester says the minimum new dropped kerb is roughly 3 m, with a starting cost of £1,575 including up to 2 m towards the property. Wider crossings, verges and obstructions cost more.	Council page	3 October 2026
Newcastle	No application fee published	None published	Not published	Newcastle's page doesn't list an application fee. It inspects and sends an estimate within 10 weekdays; you have 90 days to accept and pay in full.	Council builds	Council builds	–	–	Newcastle says the average standard single crossing costs around £1,600 (no VAT) and a double around £2,200 (no VAT), depending on footpath materials and size. Moving streetlights, utility cabinets or street furniture costs extra.	Council page	3 October 2026
Northumberland	Not published	None published	Not published	Northumberland's dropped kerb page doesn't publish an application fee or construction price. Ask the council when you apply.	Council or your contractor	Works to Northumberland County Council's specification; Permission from the Highways and Infrastructure department before work	–	–	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Salford	Not published	Licence to excavate in the highway (your contractor): amount not published	Not published	Salford says you pay 'the appropriate fee' (it covers two inspections and the street works notice), but its page doesn't publish the amount. Your contractor also needs a licence to excavate in the highway.	Council's own list only	£5m public liability. Must be on Salford City Council's approved contractor list; £5 million public liability insurance	–	–	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Staffordshire	Not published	None published	Not published	Staffordshire's dropped kerb pages mention a non-refundable administration charge but don't publish the amount. It is shown when you apply.	Any qualified contractor	£5m public liability. Registered with Staffordshire's network and traffic management register; £5 million public liability insurance with no limit on the number of claims	3 years	2 to 3 weeks after inspection	Not published	Council page	3 October 2026
Wigan	No separate application fee published	None published	Not published	Wigan's page doesn't list an application fee. Its cost estimator includes an £80 administration charge within the crossing price, and you pay a deposit if approved.	Council builds	Council builds	–	20 working days	Wigan's estimator prices a new crossing at £188 per metre of driveway width plus £188 per metre for transition kerbs, £92 per square metre for any grass verge and £56 per metre of edging kerbs, plus an £80 administration charge. A utility service box in the way can add an estimated £6,000 (set by the provider).	Council page	3 October 2026
Worcestershire	No application fee published	None published	Not published	Worcestershire's pages don't list an application fee. You pay the installation quote up front; the quote is built from the published unit prices below.	Council builds	Council builds	–	Usually within 14 days	Worcestershire quotes from published prices: £90.57 per kerb and £157.02 per square metre of new construction. It says a standard installation (5 kerbs, 1.5 m wide footway or verge) costs approximately £1433.74 plus VAT, for works completed by 31 March 2027. Moving utility covers, lamp posts or street furniture costs extra.	Council page	3 October 2026

How to read the fee columns. Homeowner application fee is what you pay the council to apply. Other council fees are further fees the same council publishes for the job, such as a second payment on approval or the licence or permit your contractor needs (they usually pass it on to you). Total council fees adds them up. Where a council lets you use your own contractor, the figures are for that route; the other route is described in the notes. Construction prices aren't included. Where the council builds the crossing itself, you also pay its price for the work. "+ an unpublished fee" means the council says another licence or permit is needed but doesn't publish the amount. Every row links to the council page that shows the fee.

9 councils don't publish a homeowner application fee, so the table says so instead of showing a figure: Glasgow, Hull, Manchester, Newcastle, Northumberland, Salford, Staffordshire, Wigan and Worcestershire. Norfolk, Wiltshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton, Gateshead, Cardiff, Swansea, Dorset, Doncaster and Kirklees aren't included yet: see why.

What pushes the price up

Width: more dropped kerbs mean more pavement to rebuild. Southend charges £255 and Thurrock £264 per m².
Grass verges: Manchester says verges are the most expensive type of crossing.
Street furniture: moving lamp posts or signs costs up to £3,000 (Devon); streetlights can be well over £2,000 (West Sussex).
Utilities: Gloucestershire says diverting utility apparatus can cost over £10,000.
Drains: Thurrock charges £420 to amend a highway gully.
Parking restrictions: Devon says moving restrictions can cost £3,000 and cause long delays.
Traffic management on busy roads: Surrey's Lane Rental can add up to £1,500 a day on its busiest roads at peak times.

Ways to keep the cost down

Get at least three quotes where you can choose your contractor (West Sussex, Gloucestershire and Cornwall recommend this). Our contractor guide lists what to check.
Blue Badge holders may get discounts: Birmingham on a standard crossing, Kingston £100 off.
Share with a neighbour: Birmingham and Southend allow joint applications.
Kent: if footway works are already planned on your road, you may get a dropped kerb at a reduced rate.
Use a permeable driveway, so you don't need planning permission for the hard surface.

Questions people ask

How much is a dropped kerb on average?

Council-published prices for a standard crossing mostly fall between £1,500 and £2,500, plus council fees (a median application fee of £200 in our data, and £47 to £830 in total council fees). The full range runs from about £1,000 to £3,500, before extras like moving a lamp post.

Is the council fee refundable?

Usually not, though some councils refund part if you're refused: Kent £231, Lancashire £145, Cambridgeshire £314, Thurrock £300, Bradford £60.

Is VAT included?

Council fees are usually stated as the total you pay (Essex says its vehicle crossing fees carry no VAT; Southampton's £165 includes VAT). Bradford's construction price is £1,995 plus VAT.

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)