Guidance

Coal Authority permit process

A step by step application guide of the Coal Authority permit to carry out investigation or treatment works process.

From:: Coal Authority
Published: 5 November 2019
Last updated: 1 June 2022 — See all updates

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What is a permit and how to get one?

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A step by step application guide of the Coal Authority permit process from when an application is received and logged to the permit closure following completion of permitted works.

Published 5 November 2019
Last updated 1 June 2022 + show all updates

1 June 2022
New guidance issued with explanations of our current terms and conditions and insurance policies.
5 November 2019
First published.

Update history

2025-08-15 14:05
Updated to reflect that during periods of high demand, registration of applications from receipt to processing of payment can take up to 10 working days.

2024-11-04 14:27
Section 1 has been updated to include details on Incidental Coal Agreements which are required where development has the potential to encounter coal seams that require excavating.

2024-06-28 14:49
We have capped the indemnity to £10million.We do not ask insurance to be £10million for small scale operations. We require insurance to be adequate to provide the permit holder with sufficient funds to furnish any likely claim on the indemnity by the Coal Authority.As we have amended clause 6 to require insurance to be sufficient, we have defined non-commercial public bodies and regulated statutory or public utility entities that follow HM Treasury guidelines for insurance purposes to be considered as meeting our insurance requirements.

2023-10-31 14:08
Updated to reflect a 10 working day turnaround permit is charged at twice the rate of a standard permit.

2023-10-27 15:40
We now aim to issue our determination on a permit application in at least 20 working days for a standard permit and 10 working days for an expedited permit. A 12 working day turnaround permit is still charged at twice the rate of a standard permit.

2023-07-17 09:30
The determination period has been extended to 25 working days for a standard permit and 12 working days for an expedited permit. A 12 working day turnaround permit is charged at twice the rate of a standard permit.

2022-06-01 14:49
New guidance issued with explanations of our current terms and conditions and insurance policies.