Caravan, mobile home & camping site licensing

Caravan and camping sites in Newport require a licence from the council to make sure the site is run in a proper and safe manner.

Before applying for a licence you need to make sure that your site has planning consent

Once planning permission has been obtained, the land occupier must apply for a site licence for either a residential or non-residential site.

Read about different types of caravan or camp site

Sometimes a licence is not required:

Mobile home and caravan site exemptions

  • if workers such as forestry or seasonal workers are staying on the site
  • if the site is five acres or more and there are three or less caravans there for 28 days or less of a year
  • if you are a member of an organisation and have a caravan exemption certificate, or your site is approved by an organisation with a caravan exemption certificate

Apply for a caravan park exemption certificate

Camp site exemptions

  • if there is incidental use of the site within the boundary of a dwelling house
  • if the site has approval from certain organisations, e.g. caravan club
  • if it is a building or engineering site, or used by travelling showmen or occupied by the local authority

Apply for a camping site licence

Licenced caravan parks have to comply with conditions that relate to: 

  • type of caravan - residential, static holiday, touring, tent-based
  • site density
  • spacing between pitches and the maximum number of pitches
  • amenities such as toilets, showers, washing facilities
  • drinking water
  • waste disposal arrangements including water and chemical disposal
  • sanitation
  • fire safety and electrical installations
  • parking arrangements

View tented site licence conditions (pdf)

Fees  

Mobile home site licensing fees      
 Site licence - maximum 2 pitches          No charge     
 Site licence - small (3-10 caravans)     £805.07
 Site licence - medium (11-49 caravans)      £898.88
 Site licence - large site (50+ caravans)     £1073.25
 Variation of licence       £73.14
 Variation requiring inspection     £189.74
 Fee to deposit site rules       £60.94
 Replacement licence       £18.02
 Fixed penalty notice charge       £101.23
Camp site licensing fees       
Camp site licence     £815.07

 

Inspection

If you hold a licence you will have an annual inspection visit from council officers who will examine certificates and maintenance records.

During the inspection the number of units, structures, separating distances, toilet blocks, LPG storage areas and parking will be examined. 

Fines and penalties

You may be fined up to £2,500 if you fail to obtain a licence or break any of your licence conditions.  

View licensed caravan sites in Newport

Complaints

Complaints about a caravan park should be emailed to [email protected], you can also make a complaint online 

Fire precautions

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005; The Regulatory Reform Order (RRO) applies to caravan and camping sites.

The RRO is enforced by the local fire and rescue authority.

Fire precautions may be designated as licence conditions under the RRO depending on which site you have. 

For further information about the Regulatory Reform Order contact the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

Supporting legislation