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Caravans Sites

The legal definition of a caravan site is "...land on which a caravan is stationed for the purposes of human habitation and land which is used in conjunction with land on which a caravan is so stationed".

Under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960, the Council has a duty to issue licences to all caravan sites in the district that have planning permission. Planning permission is a prerequisite to the licence.  Please contact Planning for further information if you do not have planning permission and wish to apply for a licence.

The purpose of the licence is to protect the health, safety and welfare of caravan occupants and to address issues such as fire safety, electrical safety, drainage, adequate amenities and a wholesome water supply.  There is no fee for the licence.

The obligation to obtain a licence, before land is used as a caravan site, is strict. It is an offence for an occupier of land to cause or permit any part of his land to be used as a caravan site, without holding a site licence. On summary conviction, this offence carries a penalty of up to £2,500.

However, there are many instances in which a site licence is not required. Section 2 of the Caravan sites and Control of Development Act 1960 summarises the exemption categories as follows:

• Use within the curtilage of a dwelling house.
• Use by a person travelling with a caravan for one or two nights.
• Use of holdings of five acres or more in certain circumstances.
• Sites occupied and supervised by exempted organisations.
• Sites approved by exempted organisations.
• Meetings organised by exempted organisations.
• Agricultural and forestry workers.
• Building and engineering sites.
• Travelling showmen.
• Sites occupied by Licensing Authority.
• Gypsy sites occupied by County Councils.

If you have any queries on caravan site licensing matters please contact the Private Sector Housing Team by phoning 01993 861060 or use the online service also available on the right of this page.

If you are temporarily staying in a caravan whilst remedial work is carried out to a flood-affected property, click here for further information about planning permission and site licensing requirements.

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