Caravan site licence

You need a licence to run a caravan site or a combined caravan and camping site. We issue licences under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960, which prohibits the use of land as a caravan site unless the occupier holds a valid licence.

When you need a licence

You need a licence if you plan to use land as a caravan site.

You must:

• have planning permission or a certificate confirming lawful use
• follow any limits set by planning permission, such as the type of caravan allowed, as these restrictions will also apply to your licence

You can contact us at Environmental Services if you want to check whether your site needs a licence.

Exemptions

You may not need a licence if your site is:

• a caravan sited with the curtilage of a dwelling and its use is incidental to the dwelling. This means it cannot be occupied separately
• sites occupied by exempted organisations such as the Caravan Club
• sites of up to 5 caravans certified by an exempt organisation and which are for members only
• sites occupied by the local authority
• travelling showpeople sites
• sites for temporary and special purposes such as caravan rallies, agricultural and forestry workers, building and engineering sites and travelling salesmen

Other exemptions may apply. Contact us to check your situation.

Licence conditions

Your licence will include:

• the number of caravans allowed on the site
• rules about facilities and amenities
• safety requirements for people staying on the site

The exact conditions depend on the type of site, such as residential, holiday static or touring.

Apply or get advice

We must review your application before issuing a licence.

You can:

• contact us for advice before applying
• submit an application once planning permission is in place
• ask us to confirm if your site is exempt