Garden clearance rules in New Forest

Registration details checked against official sources, October 2026. Council rules vary and change, so the answers must come from the council itself.

If you clear gardens or carry waste in New Forest, you need the right waste carrier registration, a signed waste transfer note for each job, and to follow New Forest’s own rules on tipping, trees, skips and parking. Those local rules are set by the council, so ask them directly.

It depends where the job is, not where you live

Council rules apply where the work happens. If you are based in one council and clear a garden in the next one, you need to follow the rules of the council you worked in, on top of your registration. A job that crosses an area means checking every council it touches.

Registration in England

Register with the Environment Agency if your business is based in England, or most of your work is there. Upper tier registration on gov.uk costs £191.02 for a new application and £130.25 to renew every three years. Carrying waste as a business without the right registration can lead to an unlimited fine. An Environment Agency registration lets you carry waste anywhere in Great Britain, including Wales and Scotland. It does not cover Northern Ireland. Official guidance from Environment Agency.

Who to ask in New Forest

New Forest is a district council in Hampshire. In two-tier areas like this, the district council usually handles household waste collections and fly-tipping enforcement, while Hampshire County Council usually runs the household recycling centres, waste disposal and the roads, so skip permits often come from the county. Ask both.

New Forest District Council. Find your council by postcode on gov.uk.

Six questions to ask New Forest

Tipping: Which tips or transfer stations take trade waste? Is a permit, account or booking needed, and what do they charge per load?
Trees and hedges: How do I check for tree preservation orders and conservation areas before cutting? Who do I contact?
Skips and parking: Do I need a permit to put a skip on the road or to suspend parking? What does it cost?
Checks and enforcement: How does the council check carriers’ vehicles and paperwork? Who is the enforcement or fly-tipping contact?
Trade waste and fees: Are there local rules, schemes or charges for businesses clearing customers’ waste?
Anything else: Any local licences, byelaws or requirements for garden clearance businesses?

Write down the answers, with the date and who you spoke to, and keep them with your records.

Working in more than one council? The Garden Clearance Compliance Pack covers England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It makes a council checklist for each council you list, plus waste transfer notes and the rest of your paperwork, for £39. See the pack

Nearby councils

Working across several councils in this area? See the Hampshire (district councils) page: 11 councils on one page.

General guidance, not legal advice. Check current rules with New Forest and the regulator. Disclaimer.