Do I need planning permission for a static caravan?

There are lots of reasons why you might want to put a static caravan on your own land. Maybe you’re developing a property and need temporary accommodation, or perhaps you’re thinking about the rental opportunity of putting a static caravan on your own land. Whatever the reason, it’s essential that you talk to your local council first!

If you want to temporarily move into a static caravan whilst building or renovating a property, most councils will allow this. But only if it’s on a temporary basis.

If you want to permanently live in a static caravan on a piece of land, you will need planning permission. We would suggest that you talk to your local council before buying the land or a static caravan to avoid any costly mistakes!

Likewise, if you want to take advantage of the current ‘staycation’ boom and rent out a static caravan for holidays on your land, you will need planning permission. Depending on the size of your venture, it’s also likely that you will need to apply for a Caravan Site License from your local council.

According to the Government website you do not need a license to run a caravan site if:

• forestry workers, builders, travelling showmen or seasonal workers (like fruit pickers) stay in caravans on the site
• the site is 5 or more acres and there are 3 or less caravans there for 28 days or less a year
• you’re a member of an organisation like a caravan club and have a caravan exemption certificate
• your site is approved by an organisation with a caravan exemption certificate
• members of an exempted organisation stay in their caravans on the site
• your site is used for a social get-together of caravan club members (a ‘rally’)

If you do need to apply for a Caravan Site Licence you may find that the council put conditions on the layout and the facilities that you must provide.

If you’re thinking about putting a static caravan on your land to house workers, on a farm or building site, you may not need planning permission. You are permitted to house workers on agricultural land whilst they work for up to 28 days, as long as their work is relating to the land (during lambing season for example).

You are also permitted to site a static caravan in some instances under Health and Safety legislation. If, for example, it was providing workers with essential amenities such as toilet facilities or shelter from the weather.

The simple answer is that it depends on your circumstances and your local council. Generally, if the static caravan will only be on your land temporarily and its being there will not change the use of land, most councils will work with you. If you intend to keep the caravan on your land permanently, you will almost certainly need planning permission.



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