Licensing of caravan and camping sites

Licensing of Caravan and Camping Sites

The Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 prohibits the use of land as a caravan site without a site licence.

The occupier of any land cannot use their land as a caravan site unless they hold a valid site licence. No caravan site licence can be issued unless the land has planning permission for use as a caravan site and the applicant has not had a site licence revoked within the previous three years.

Under Section 269 of the Public Health Act 1936 a site licence is required if a person allows any land occupied by them to be used for camping (tents only) purposes on more than forty two consecutive days or more than sixty days in any twelve consecutive months. There are exceptions for organisations that hold camping exemption certificates.

A caravan is any structure, designed or adapted for human habitation, which is capable of being moved from one place to another (towed or transported), provided its dimensions, when assembled, do not exceed 18m in length, 6m wide and 3m in height. Tents and railway stock on rails within the railway system are not included in the definition of a caravan.

A caravan site licence is not required for:

Incidental use within the curtilage of a dwelling house
Single caravan used by a person for not more than two nights and 28 days in 12 months
Holdings of five acres or more, if not more than 28 days in 12 months, and a maximum of three caravans at any time
Sites occupied and supervised by exempted organisation
Sites approved by exempted organisations for up to five caravans
Meetings organised by exempted organisations
Agricultural and forestry workers
Building and engineering sites
Travelling showmen
Sites operated and owned by a local council, county councils or regional councils

Mobile Homes Act 2013

The Mobile Homes Act 2013 amends and strengthens the earlier legislation in place relating to caravan sites and mobile homes. The main provisions of the Act became operable on 1 April 2014.

The Act gives greater protection to residents and increases the enforcement powers of the local authority. The requirement for site owners to approve a purchaser of a mobile home has been removed. It is now a criminal offence for site owners to ‘block sales’.

Local authority powers include the serving of Compliance Notices, the introduction of an annual fee, registering site rules with the local authority and the service of statutory notices to remedy contraventions of site conditions.

Mobile Homes sites affected by the Mobile Homes Act 2013 are those sites which have planning permission to have residential mobile homes and are occupied by more than just the owner and their family within one mobile home. These sites are known as “relevant protected sites”. The Act does not apply to sites owned by the Local Authority.

The Act allows the local authority to charge a fee for processing the licence and to cover costs of annual inspections. It also gives local authorities discretion when issuing new licences or transferring existing ones. This discretion relates to management structures, interests in the site, length of leases and finances. These new powers are intended to combat abuse where licences are transferred rapidly between closely associated people or companies.

The Mobile Homes Act 2013 requires that owners of 'Relevant Protected Sites' deposit Park Site Rules with the local authority, once they have been agreed with residents. Dartford Borough Council is required under the Act to keep a register of these site rules and publish them on line.

Applying for a Caravan or Camping Site Licence

The occupier of the land must apply in writing to the Council for a caravan or camping site licence. You can apply for a new licence or amend an existing licence online. Please also read our Caravan Site Privacy Statement.

Fees are outlined below.

Please note a fit and proper person test is also now required for all existing licensed sites and any new site applications from this date.

A site licence is ordinarily issued automatically on receipt of a valid application once planning permission has been obtained. Where the applicant already has planning permission when they make a valid application, the local authority must issue the licence within two months of the particulars being given. A valid application should include fully completed application form, site plan and where applicable, proof of fee payment. If planning permission is not obtained until later, the licence must be issued within two months of the permission being obtained. In each case the period may be extended by written agreement between the applicant and the local authority. We aim to determine your application within these timescales.

Tacit Consent:

In the event that your application is not determined within that period, under the Provision of Service Regulations 2009, tacit consent is deemed to have been granted by the Council.

Caravan Site Licencing Fees

In January 2014 regulations were issued by government on the detailed working of the new Act, followed by guidance in February 2014 on site licence fees. Following this guidance, the Council has agreed the methodology for charges.

New Site License Application 2023 to 2024 & 2024 to 2025

0 to 5 Pitches £0

6 to 25 Pitches £590

26 to 99 Pitches £755

100 to 199 Pitches £990

200+ Pitches £1,210

Annual Fees 2023 to 2024 & 2024 to 2025

0 to 5 Pitches £0

6 to 25 Pitches £220

26 to 99 Pitches £385

100 to 199 Pitches £610

200+ Pitches £835

Other Fees 2023 to 2024 & 2024 to 2025

Amendment / Transfer (No Visit) 6 pitches and above £180

Amendments / Transfer (With Visit) 6 pitches and above £295

Deposit of Site Rules 6 pitches and above £70

Enforcement Service of Compliance Notice £490 (Plus VAT)

Fit and Proper Person Test

The Mobile Homes (Requirement for Manager of Site to be Fit and Proper Person) (England) Regulations 2020, require the manager of a site to be a Fit and Proper Person (the Regulations). Dartford Council is accordingly required to introduce a fit and proper person test for mobile home site owners, or the person appointed to manage the site, unless they are eligible for an exemption under the Regulations. Applications for existing sites should be made between 1 July 2021 and 30 September 2021.

A fee of £270 per application is payable. Proof of payment is required for an application to be valid.

You can make an application by completing our form and returning using the information at the end of the application form. Please also read;

Park Mobile Home Sites Fit and Proper Person in time Privacy Notice

You can read more about the regulations, making an application and how a determination will be made by Dartford Borough Council in our Fit and Proper Persons Determination Policy.

The fee of £270 per application can be paid via:

Debit/Credit card payment, please contact Customer Services (01322 343760) and state the Caravan Site Licence/Fit & Proper Persons Application and the site address.

By Post : Please send your cheque to: Dartford Borough Council,
Civic Centre, Home Gardens, Dartford, Kent DA1 1DR

Cheques should be made payable to Dartford Borough Council with the site address and Caravan Site Licence/Fit & Proper Persons Application written clearly on the back. If you would like a receipt please enclose a stamped addressed envelope.

Register of Site Rules Deposited with Dartford Borough Council:

Stonehill Woods Park Old London Road, Upper Ruxley, Sidcup, Kent DA14 5AS.

Fit and Proper Person Register for Mobile Home site managers:

Below is a list of entries on the Fit and Proper Person Register for Mobile Home site managers:

Stonehill Woods Park

Address of site: Old London Road, Upper Ruxley, Sidcup, Kent DA14 5AS
Application granted: 21/06/2022
Applicant name: Mr G P A Sawyer
Business address: Sawyers Parks Ltd, 44 The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5TN
Business contact details: 01322 536636 mail@sawyersparkhomes.co.uk
Status of person: Company Director
Entry effective: From 21/06/2022 to 20/06/2027
Conditions attached: None