Guide
Renewing your permit every three years
Last updated 15 September 2026
Waste transporter, controller and combined permits in England last three years. You renew to carry on. A permit cannot be transferred to another business, so if you sell up, take on a partner, or turn a sole trader business into a limited company, the new business needs its own permit. Working on after an expired permit means working without one.
How this compares with today
Waste carrier registrations already run for three years, so the rhythm is familiar. What changes is what renewal involves. The regime is built on checks, so it is reasonable to expect some of them to repeat at renewal, but which ones has not been confirmed.
Fees
Defra has said permit charges will sit within the environmental permitting charging framework, with an application fee to cover processing and a compliance monitoring fee to fund checks on permit holders. The amounts have not been published. Enforcement against criminals is funded separately.
Changes during the three years
Some changes will need to be reported to the EA rather than waiting for renewal: a change of address, a change of nominated competent person, and changes to the business structure. Because permits cannot be transferred, a restructure needs a new permit in the new business's name, and the sensible order is to have the new permit in hand before the change takes effect.
Avoiding a gap
Put the expiry date in your diary and start six months before it. Keep your records in order all the way through, because compliance monitoring means the EA may look at them. If your competence holder is likely to leave, plan the replacement early. If you are restructuring, do the permit before the paperwork at Companies House, not after.
Still to be confirmed
- Which checks (identity, criminal record, tax, competence) repeat at renewal.
- Renewal fees and whether there is a reduced fee for renewal compared with a first application.
- Whether there is any grace period after expiry. Do not plan on one.
- The process for notifying changes mid-permit.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I transfer my permit when I sell the business?
- No. The buyer applies for their own permit.
- Is there a grace period if I miss the renewal date?
- Not confirmed. Plan on the basis that there is none.
- Do I have to retake the competence assessment at renewal?
- Not confirmed.
We offer a renewal service that contacts you six months ahead and handles the paperwork.See services and pricing
This guide is general information, not legal advice. The Environment Agency makes the final decision on any application.