When you need a campsite licence
Check planning permission and site licensing separately before offering overnight stays. A permitted development right is not a blanket exemption from a campsite licence.
Tents in England and Wales
GOV.UK’s camping licence guidance explains when a licence is needed and lists exemptions for some shorter periods of tented use and certain exempt organisations. The length and pattern of use matter. Give your council the dates, accommodation types and site plan so it can confirm which rules apply.
The guidance refers to 42 consecutive days and 60 days in a 12-month period. These licensing checks are separate from the planning rules for temporary campsites. Do not assume that a 60-day planning route allows every arrangement without a licence.
Caravans, campervans and motorhomes
Accommodation type matters. GOV.UK’s caravan site licence guidance covers the licensing route and exemptions. Ask the council how your proposed vehicles and pattern of stays will be treated, rather than using a tent-only answer for the whole site.
Some organisations hold exemption certificates for particular camping or caravanning arrangements. That is a specific scheme with conditions, not a general exemption for any small campsite. See the official exemption-certificate guidance before relying on one.
Planning is another check
Permitted development routes have their own conditions, location restrictions and notification or approval processes. A temporary campsite right does not automatically establish permission for a wedding, festival or amplified music. Start with the country-specific planning guide, then discuss your actual proposal with the local planning and licensing teams.
The licensing guidance above covers England and Wales. If the land is in Scotland or Northern Ireland, get the relevant local authority’s guidance for that site rather than applying these thresholds across the UK.
What to send the council
- The exact venue location and a plan showing the proposed camping area.
- Which accommodation will be used: tents, caravans, campervans, motorhomes or a mixture.
- The operating dates, consecutive nights and total days of use.
- Whether stays accompany an event, and how toilets, waste and access will be managed.
- Any existing planning permission, site licence or exemption certificate.
Checked against the linked official guidance on 5 October 2026. This is a starting point for questions, not a determination of permission for your land.