Caravan site licensing
Contents
- Caravan site licensing
- Change, transfer or vary a caravan site licence
- Fit and proper person assessment (FPPA)
Caravan site licensing
To run a caravan site in North Northamptonshire you need a licence from us. There are 3 main types of caravan site licences.
- the licence holder owns the site and residents lease a pitch (some sites have mobile homes to rent as well)
- owners and managers of the site must satisfy us that they are a fit and proper person to manage the site
- a licence holder must agree site rules with residents and must deposit those rules with us
The level of fees depends on the number of units at the site. Fees will apply unless the site is exempted under Mobile Homes regulation. For costs view our licensing fees and charges page.
For further information and details of exemption from fees please see our Mobile homes fee and assessment policy.
- holiday sites may have individually owned static caravans for use solely by caravan owners, and may have static caravans and or tents available for rent
- the site is subject to conditions that prohibit the use of caravans for human habitation during certain times of the year
There is no fee for this type of licence.
- a site that is licensed for touring units such as caravans, camper vans, motor homes and tents
There is no fee for this type of licence.
Exceptions
You do not need a licence for:
- sites that are 5 or more acres with 3 or less caravans there for 28 days in any 12 months
- sites for temporary and special purposes such as caravan rallies, agricultural and forestry workers, building and engineering sites and travelling salesmen
- sites occupied by exempted organisations such as a Caravan Club, Scouts or hobby and leisure clubs and have a caravan exemption certificate
- a single caravan sited for no more than 2 consecutive nights for a maximum of 28 days in any 12 months
- sites of up to 5 caravans certified by an exempt organisation and is for members only
- a site for tents used on fewer than 42 days in a row, or fewer than 60 days in any 12 month period
Conditions
We can add conditions to a site licence as we see appropriate, and these may vary from site to site.
Conditions can include:
- the type of caravan or tent, e.g. residential, static holiday or touring
- the permitted density (the number per acre or hectare) and the spacing between caravans and/or tents
- water supply and drainage; lavatory and washing facilities
- fire precautions and electrical installations
We may alter conditions on your licence at any time but we must give you the opportunity to make representations about the proposed changes.
Apply
To apply for a caravan site licence, you will need:
- details of your planning permission or planning application
- to provide particulars of any lease or tenancy you have
- to provide clear plans for the site on a scale of 1:500 with all amenities shown
- a card payment if fees are deemed applicable to your application
For costs view our licensing fees and charges page.
You will not be issued a site licence if you have had one revoked within the last 3 years.
Next steps
You must have planning permission before a licence can be issued. Provided you have the correct planning permission, you will be able to act as though your licence is granted if you have not heard from us by the end of the 2 month statutory consultation period.
Our officers have the right to enter, at all reasonable hours, land which is used as a caravan site or in respect of an application for a site licence has been made.
Appeal against a decision
If you're not happy with the conditions on your site licence or have been refused a licence, you have the right to appeal. You must do this through the magistrates' court within 28 days of the licence being issued. Please contact [email protected] in first as we may be able to give you more information on the decision.
It is an offence for a site licence holder to fail to comply with any conditions attached to the licence. If we are satisfied that a breach of a condition under a site licence has occurred, in the first instance we would serve a compliance notice. If the notice is not complied with we can instigate proceedings in the Magistrates' Court.
If, after having been convicted of breaching site licence condition(s) on three or more occasions, a site licence holder continues to break conditions of the licence, the local authority may, instead of instigating further proceedings, apply to the Magistrates' Court to have their licence revoked.
Where revocation is ordered, another licence may not be issued in respect of land to the same holder for at least three years.
Last updated 17 April 2025