Caravan site licensing
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 a number of exemptions to this licensing requirement, such as:
- Incidental use within the boundary of a dwelling house
- Sites approved by certain exempted organisations for up to 5 caravans
- Sites for temporary and special purposes such as caravan rallies, agricultural and forestry workers, building and engineering sites and travelling salesmen
- Sites occupied by the local authority
- Caravan' refers to all mobile homes including holiday caravans, residential caravans, touring caravans and camper vans
Before you apply for a licence, you should check that you have the necessary planning permission. A licence cannot be issued until the corresponding planning permission is in place. Planning Support can be contacted at planning.support@torridge.gov.uk. Once planning permission has been obtained, the land occupier must apply for a site licence. A site inspection may also take place at this time. Click here for fees and charges.
Licence Conditions
The licence will include various conditions that are designed to protect people using or accessing the site. These conditions are based on national model standards and can be varied or removed at any time as circumstances change. Conditions relate to aspects such as site layout, fire precautions, sanitary facilities, etc.
Changes to a site licence
If the site is to be sold or transferred to another person or named body, you will need to apply for a transfer of the licence. A site inspection may also take place at this time.
You should apply to vary the licence in the event of any changes which may affect the validity of the site licence so that the it can be changed. These changes may include new planning consents which alter unit types or numbers or other material alterations to the site (for example new verandahs, re-siting of units, etc).
Site inspections
An Environmental Protection Officer will carry out inspections from time to time to ensure that the conditions of the licence are being complied with and that other health and safety risks are being adequately controlled. Inspectors will normally walk the site to check separation distances, numbers of units, structures adjoining caravans, fire provisions, LPG storage areas, toilet blocks etc. The current electrical certificate, landlord gas safety certificates and any other maintenance records will also be inspected.
Overview
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 a number of exemptions to this licensing requirement, such as:
- Incidental use within the boundary of a dwelling house
- Sites approved by certain exempted organisations for up to 5 caravans
- Sites for temporary and special purposes such as caravan rallies, agricultural and forestry workers, building and engineering sites and travelling salesmen
- Sites occupied by the local authority
- Caravan' refers to all mobile homes including holiday caravans, residential caravans, touring caravans and camper vans
Licence Conditions
The licence will include various conditions that are designed to protect people using or accessing the site. These conditions are based on national model standards and can be varied or removed at any time as circumstances change. Conditions relate to aspects such as site layout, fire precautions, sanitary facilities, etc.
Site inspections
An Environmental Protection Officer will carry out inspections from time to time to ensure that the conditions of the licence are being complied with and that other health and safety risks are being adequately controlled. Inspectors will normally walk the site to check separation distances, numbers of units, structures adjoining caravans, fire provisions, LPG storage areas, toilet blocks etc. The current electrical certificate, landlord gas safety certificates and any other maintenance records will also be inspected.
Apply for a caravan site licence
Before you apply for a licence you should check that you have the necessary planning permission. A licence cannot be issued until the corresponding planning permission is in place. Planning Support can be contacted at planning.support@torridge.gov.uk. Once planning permission has been obtained, the land occupier must apply for a site licence. A site inspection may also take place at this time.
To apply you will need to:
- check that you have the necessary
- complete the application form
- provide supporting documents
- pay the appropriate application fee
Apply now
on the GOV.UK website
Transfer a caravan site licence
If the site is to be sold or transferred to another person or named body, you will need to apply for a transfer of the licence. Both parties will need to complete, sign and return the form. A site inspection may also take place at this time.
A fee only applies to sites which include residential accommodation.
Application for transfer of caravan site licence (PDF) [27KB]
Application for transfer of caravan site licence for residential sites (PDF) [27KB]
Make changes to a caravan site licence
You should apply to vary the licence in the event of any changes which may affect the validity of the site licence so that the it can be changed. These changes may include new planning consents which alter unit types or numbers or other material alterations to the site (for example new verandahs, re-siting of units, etc).
To apply to vary, you will need to:
- check that you have the necessary
- complete the application form
- provide supporting documents
- pay the appropriate application fee
Apply now
on Customer Self Service
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