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Caravan and campsites

To run a caravan and/or camping site within the Cotswold District you may need a licence from us. There are three types of licence.

  • Residential
  • Holiday
  • Touring site 

Planning permission is required before a licence can be applied for. The purpose of the licence is to protect the health, safety and welfare of caravan occupants and to address issues such as fire safety, electrical safety, drainage, adequate amenities and a wholesome water supply. 

You can be fined up to £2,500 for permitting any part of your land to be used as a caravan site without holding a site licence.

Fit and Proper Person Test

New requirements mean The Manager of a Residential site is required to pass a Fit and Proper Person assessment. The mobile home owner or the person appointed to manage the site must apply to the Council by 30 September 2021.

Apply for a fit and proper person assessment 

Please email your application to [email protected] or post to ERS, Council Offices, Trinity Road, Cirencester GL7 1PX.

You are required to submit a DBS certificate for each manager.

We’ll only accept your DBS certificate if it’s less than 30 days old. Further guidance is available from gov.uk website

Apply for a caravan and camping site licence Apply for a camp site licence

Next steps in application for a caravan and camping licence

If you haven’t heard from us by the end of the target completion period please contact us. We may put conditions on the licence. Licences will not be issued to applicants who have had a site licence revoked within three years of the current application.

Fees and charges for caravan and camping site licences 

Details of fee Number of caravans Fees
Fee for depositing site rules Not applicable £42.50
Application for a new site licence 5 or less £408
  6 to 24 £543
  25 to 99 £653
  100 to 199 £750
  200 and over £860
Annual fee for existing site licence 5 or less  £343
  6 to 24 £452
  25 to 99 £563
  100 to 199 £653
  200 and over £757
Transfer/amendment of an existing site licence Not applicable £92
Administrative and other expenses to serve notice under the Mobile Homes Act 2013 Not applicable £388

You don’t need a licence for:

  • A caravan sited within the curtilage of a dwelling, provided the caravan is not occupied separately.
  • A single caravan sited for not more than two consecutive nights for a maximum of 28 days in any 12 months.
  • Up to three caravans on a site of not less than five acres for a maximum of 28 days in any 12 months.
  • Sites occupied by exempted organisations such as the Caravan Club.
  • Sites of up to five caravans certified by an exempt organisation which are for members only.
  • Sites occupied by the local authority. These are usually gypsy sites.
  • Sites for temporary and special purposes such as caravan rallies run by exempted organisations, agricultural and forestry workers, building and engineering sites and travelling salesmen.
  • A site for tents only can be used for a maximum of 42 days consecutively or 60 days in a 12 month period. (Planning consent is required for use of land on more than 28 days).

Register of licensed caravan and camp sites

Fit and Proper Persons Register for Cotswold District Council - The Mobile Homes (Requirement for Manager of Site to be Fit and Proper Person) (England) Regulations 2020