Caravan site licence

The Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 prohibits the use of land as a caravan site unless the occupier holds a site licence issued by the local authority.

There are some exceptions:

• a caravan sited with the curtilage of a dwelling and its use is incidental to the dwelling. This means it cannot be occupied separately
• a single caravan sited for not more than two consecutive nights where no other caravan is sited on the same or adjoining land and up to a maximum of 28 days in any 12 months
• up to three caravans on a site of not less than 2.0235 hectares for an overall maximum of 28 days in any 12 months
• sites occupied by exempted organisations such as the Caravan Club
• sites of up to five caravans certified by an exempt organisation and which are for members only
• sites occupied by the local authority. These are usually gypsy sites
• sites for temporary and special purposes such as caravan rallies, agricultural and forestry workers, building and engineering sites and travelling salesmen or
• a site for tents only can be used for an overall maximum of 28 days in any 12 months.

Licence conditions

Licences have conditions which include:

• the permitted density (the number per acre/hectare) and the spacing between caravans
• water supply and drainage; lavatory and washing facilities and
• fire precautions and electrical installations.

If you wish to change the use of the land to a permanent caravan site use you must have planning permission before a licence can be issued.

One of the factors to be considered by the local planning authority is the type of caravan for which the new site is intended to be used, e.g. 'residential', 'static holiday' or 'touring'.