Meta description: See why the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 can still decide whether your new campsite needs a site licence in 2026.
Hello, farmer, hospitality owner or rural landowner. Planning permission is not the whole picture.
Even if your campsite qualifies for permitted development under Class BC in England or Class BA in Wales, a separate legal test may apply. The Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 governs caravan site licences.
Get that test wrong and you could commit a criminal offence, not just breach planning rules. Check both regimes before you open.
What triggers a caravan site licence?
Section 1 says you must not cause or permit land to be used as a caravan site unless a site licence is in force. A caravan site means land where a caravan is stationed for human habitation, plus land used with it. Using land as a caravan site without a licence is an offence. In England, a court may impose a fine up to level 5 on the standard scale.
The key question is what you plan to accommodate.
Tents alone do not trigger a site licence under this Act. A tent-only campsite is not a caravan site for this purpose. Other planning, safety and environmental requirements may still apply.
Do not assume every glamping unit is a tent. A static unit or towed caravan may fall within the legal definition of a caravan. A motorhome or campervan designed or adapted for habitation can also fall within that definition. A unit on wheels needs a careful check. Its label does not decide its legal status.
So, if you plan a pop-up campsite with tents only, the 1960 Act may not require a site licence. Add caravans or qualifying motorhomes, and assess the licensing rules separately, even if your planning route permits that accommodation.
Read section 1 of the Act and check the proposed units before you take bookings.
The exemptions landowners lean on
Some caravan sites can operate without a site licence under specific exemptions in Schedule 1. The details matter. Do not treat “under 28 days” as a general exemption for every pop-up campsite.
The 28-day rule is not the 60-day planning right
One Schedule 1 exemption can apply to land of at least five acres, including qualifying adjoining land in the same occupation. Caravan use for human habitation must not exceed 28 days in the previous 12 months, and no more than three caravans can be stationed at any one time.
Those conditions apply together. The exemption also has statutory qualifications. Check the Schedule 1 wording before relying on it.
Class BC in England is different. It is a planning rule that can allow temporary recreational campsite use for up to 60 days in a calendar year, subject to conditions. It does not automatically remove a site-licensing requirement. Wales has its own Class BA planning rules.
Count the days under the rule you are applying. The 28-day licensing exemption and 60-day planning right are separate tests.
Other exemptions have narrow conditions
Schedule 1 also includes specific circumstances such as:
- Use within a dwellinghouse’s curtilage: the caravan use must be incidental to enjoyment of the dwellinghouse.
- Agricultural or forestry workers: this covers qualifying seasonal accommodation, not general visitor camping.
- Exempted organisations: an organisation may supervise recreational use, or approve a site for its members. The approved-site route is limited to five caravans and needs a current certificate.
- Short stays by a traveller with a caravan: a separate exemption can cover a stay of up to two nights, subject to conditions, including the 28-day limit.
Check the exact provision, the site history and any local restrictions. An exemption from a site licence does not itself grant planning permission.
What does a site licence demand?
If you need a licence, your local authority can attach conditions under section 5. These can cover:
- How many caravans you may have, and when you may use the site.
- Caravan types, pitch positions and site layout.
- Structures, vehicles and tents on the site.
- Fire precautions and firefighting equipment.
- Toilets and other facilities, including their maintenance.
- Planting and measures to preserve or improve the site’s amenity.
The authority must consult the fire and rescue authority about fire precaution conditions and model standards, unless the relevant land is covered by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Check the licence display requirement too. Unless the licence restricts the site to three or fewer caravans at any one time, it must require a copy to be displayed conspicuously on the land whenever caravans are stationed there.
A licence is not just paperwork. Its conditions shape your pitch numbers, layout, facilities and operating plan. Speak to your council’s licensing or environmental health team before you invest.
The 2026 reality check
A tent-only campsite under Class BC in England or Class BA in Wales may not need a caravan site licence under the 1960 Act. But permitted development is a planning route, not a blanket exemption from other laws.
If your proposal includes motorhomes, campervans, static units or towed caravans, check both questions:
- Does the planning permission or permitted development right allow the proposed use?
- Does the 1960 Act require a site licence, or does a specific Schedule 1 exemption apply?
This distinction matters for a temporary campsite licence UK 2026 plan. A 60-day planning allowance does not, by itself, answer the licensing question.
For the England and Wales planning rules, see our guides to Class BC and Class BA prior approval and Class BA in Wales. For a broader overview, visit Open Sky Adventure’s legal guides.
Open Sky Adventure works with landowners planning compliant campsite launches. Treat us as a practical partner, and verify your proposal with the relevant council before you start work or take bookings.
Caravan site licence application: checklist
- Decide whether you will host tents only, caravans, motorhomes or a mix.
- Check whether each unit meets the legal caravan definition.
- Review every relevant Schedule 1 exemption. Confirm the conditions and site history.
- Check planning permission or permitted development separately.
- Contact your council’s licensing or environmental health team.
- Prepare a site plan, pitch numbers, facilities details and fire safety information.
- Ask what licence conditions may apply, and plan how you will meet them.
- Display the licence when required, keep a copy of the conditions and retain fire safety records.
Start your farm diversification camping plan with the accommodation type. Then confirm the planning route and licence position before opening. This simple check can prevent an expensive mistake.
Join the group and sign up on the Open Sky Adventure website. We will happily help you, signup live now if you have an interest in joining our license agreement.