Caravan site licences
The Caravan 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 within the curtilage of a dwelling and its use
is incidental to the dwelling - which means it cannot be occupied
separately
- a single caravan sited for not more than two consecutive nights
for a maximum of 28 days in any 12 months
- up to three caravans on a site of not less than five acres for
a maximum of 28 days in any 12 months
- sites occupied by exempted organizations such as the Caravan
Club
- sites of up to 5 caravans certified by an exempt organization
and which are for members only
- sites occupied by the local authority
- sites for temporary and special purposes such as caravan
rallies, agricultural and forestry workers, building and
engineering sites and traveling salesmen
- a site for tents only can be used for a maximum of 28 days in
any 12 months
Licence conditions
Licences have conditions which include:
- the type of caravan, e.g. residential, static holiday or
touring
- the permitted density (the number per acre/hectare) and the
spacing between caravans
- water supply and drainage; lavatory and washing facilities
- fire precautions and electrical installations
If you are a caravan site occupier you should have a licence
already but you should check that your name, the site name and
address is correct and up to date. Also check that the licence
corresponds with your planning permission. If not, you should send
us the licence for re-issue.
If you have recently become a caravan site occupier licences are
transferable to a new occupier but the law requires us to give
consent for the transfer. You should send us the licence with a
request for transfer and we will either endorse or re-issue it.
If you are a potential site occupier you or your legal advisor
should check that all the land used for siting caravans has
planning permission and that the details correspond with the site
licence. If you wish to change the use of the land to a permanent
caravan site you must have planning permission before a licence can
be issued.
To apply for a licence an application must be completed
accompanied by a site plan at 1:500 scale showing the layout of
roads, caravans and facilities