Caravan and camping sites

To run a caravan and camping site you may need a site licence from us.

We will not issue a licence if:

  • relevant planning permission has not been granted
  • the applicant has had a site licence revoked within the last 3 years

If you’re considering buying a mobile home - visit our 'buying a mobile home' page.

Caravan sites

You do not need a licence to run a caravan site if one or more of the following apply:

  • 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 is a maximum of 3 caravans on site for no more than 28 days per year
  • the caravan is in the grounds of a home and you use it as part of the home
  • a single caravan is located in the same place for no more than 2 consecutive nights for a maximum of 28 days in any 12-month period
  • your site is occupied and supervised by an exempt organisation
  • your site is approved by an exempt organisation
  • your site is used by an exempt organisation for a meeting of its members which lasts less than 5 days
  • your site is used for a social get-together of caravan club members (a ‘rally’)

You may need a licence for sites with:

  • permanent holiday caravans
  • touring caravans
  • permanent residential caravans

We may attach conditions to a licence to cover any of the following:

  • when caravans can be on the site
  • restricting the number of caravans
  • controlling the types of caravans on the site
  • controlling the positioning of the caravans
  • regulating the use of other structures and vehicles including tents
  • enhancing and/or preserving the land including planting/replanting bushes and trees
  • sanitary services, facilities and equipment

We may charge a fee for a licence. The fee is dependent on the service.

For more information, you can view our full list of fees.

Please note that tacit consent does not apply to camping or caravan site licensing.

Residential mobile homes

Apply for a residential mobile home licence

You’ll need to give us a site layout to a scale of not less than 1:500 which shows:

  • the boundaries of the site
  • position of caravan standings
  • roads and footpaths
  • toilet blocks
  • stores
  • any other buildings
  • foul and surface water drainage
  • water supply
  • recreation spaces
  • fire points
  • parking spaces (for both occupiers and visitors)

Before applying you’ll need a:

  • Land Registry title deed for the site (we can supply these for a fee)
  • evidence of planning permission (if applicable)
  • credit or debit card

If the site has more than one Land Registry title deed you will need to pay an extra fee.

There is a fee for licences which are for relevant protected sites.

A relevant protected site will have planning permission or a site licence that allows the site to be used for residential use all year round.

After selecting the below button you’ll need to:

  1. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  2. Have a credit or debit card for payment.
  3. Select licensing.
  4. Select apply for a licence.
  5. Select caravans and camping.
  6. Select Residential Mobile Home
  7. In application types select Application for a residential mobile home licence
  8. Follow the onscreen instructions.

Apply for a mobile home licence

Transfer a residential mobile home licence

You can transfer the licence if you no longer own the mobile home. You can only transfer the licence to the new mobile homeowner.

You’ll need to give us a site layout to a scale of not less than 1:500 which shows:

  • the boundaries of the site
  • position of caravan standings
  • roads and footpaths
  • toilet blocks
  • stores
  • any other buildings
  • foul and surface water drainage
  • water supply
  • recreation spaces
  • fire points
  • parking spaces

Before applying you’ll need:

  • a Land Registry title deed for the site (we can supply these for a fee)
  • a debit or credit card for payment

If the site has more than one Land Registry title deed there will be an extra fee to pay.

There is a fee for licences which are for relevant protected sites.

A relevant protected site will have planning permission or a site licence that allows the site to be used for residential use all year round.

After selecting the below button you’ll need to:

  1. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  2. Have a credit or debit card for payment.
  3. Select licensing.
  4. Select apply for a licence.
  5. Select caravans and camping.
  6. Select Residential Mobile Home
  7. In application types select Application to transfer a residential mobile home licence
  8. Follow the onscreen instructions

Transfer a mobile home licence

Make a change to a mobile home licence

If you need to make a change to a mobile home licence you can let us know by selecting the button below.

You will not get a refund for any in year cancellation but we will no longer send annual invoices if applicable.

You can only make limited amendments which include:

  • altering, adding or removing conditions of conditions
  • amending the site address (so long as it’s the same site)
  • changing contact address of site licence holder
  • updating the licence because new planning permission was granted
  • changing the site manager

If you need to make another amendment then you will need to submit a new application.

There is a fee for this service.

After selecting the below button you’ll need to:

  1. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  2. Have a credit or debit card for payment.
  3. Select licensing.
  4. Select apply for a licence.
  5. Select caravans and camping.
  6. Select Residential Mobile Home
  7. In application types select Application to vary a residential mobile home licence
  8. Follow the onscreen instructions

Vary a mobile home licence

Mobile home park rules

A residential site can only have park rules if the rules have been deposited with us.

We will not accept any park rules which breach the Mobile Homes (Site Rules) (England) Regulations 2014.

There is a fee for depositing park rules with us.

After selecting the below button you’ll need to:

  1. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  2. Have a credit or debit card for payment.
  3. Select licensing.
  4. Select apply for a licence.
  5. Select caravans and camping.
  6. Select Residential Mobile Home
  7. In application types select Deposit of caravan park rules.
  8. Follow the onscreen instructions.

Deposit of park site rules

Touring caravan sites

Apply for a touring site licence

You’ll need to give us a site layout to a scale of not less than 1:500 which shows:

  • the boundaries of the site
  • position of caravan standings
  • roads and footpaths
  • toilet blocks
  • stores
  • any other buildings
  • foul and surface water drainage
  • water supply
  • recreation spaces
  • fire points
  • parking spaces (for both occupiers and visitors)

Before applying you’ll need a:

  • Land Registry title deed for the site (we can supply these for a fee)
  • evidence of planning permission (if applicable)

We do not charge a fee for sites used only for holiday or touring caravans.

After selecting the below button you’ll need to:

  1. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  2. Select licensing.
  3. Select apply for a licence.
  4. Select caravans and camping.
  5. Select Touring Site
  6. In application types select Application for a touring site licence
  7. Follow the onscreen instructions

Apply for a touring site licence

Transfer a touring site licence

You can transfer a licence if the existing licence holder no longer occupies the land. You can only transfer the licence to the new occupier of the land.

You’ll need to give us a site layout to a scale of not less than 1:500 which shows:

  • the boundaries of the site
  • position of caravan standings
  • roads and footpaths
  • toilet blocks
  • stores
  • any other buildings
  • foul and surface water drainage
  • water supply
  • recreation spaces
  • fire points
  • parking spaces

Before applying you’ll need:

  • a Land Registry title deed for the site (we can supply these for a fee)

We do not charge a fee for sites used only for holiday or touring caravans.

After selecting the below button you’ll need to:

  1. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  2. Select licensing.
  3. Select apply for a licence.
  4. Select caravans and camping.
  5. Select Touring Site
  6. In application types select Transfer a touring site licence
  7. Follow the onscreen instructions

Transfer a touring licence

Vary a touring site licence

If you need to make a change to a touring caravan site licence you can let us know by selecting the button below.

You can only make limited amendments which include:

  • altering, adding or removing conditions of conditions
  • amending the site address (so long as it’s the same site)
  • changing contact address of site licence holder
  • updating the licence because we granted new planning permission
  • changing the site manager

If you need to make another amendment then you will need to submit a new application.

After selecting the below button you’ll need to:

  1. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  2. Select licensing.
  3. Select apply for a licence.
  4. Select caravans and camping.
  5. Select touring site
  6. In application types select application to vary a touring site licence.
  7. Follow the onscreen instructions.

Vary a touring site licence

Static holiday site

Apply for a static holiday site licence

You’ll need to give us a site layout to a scale of not less than 1:500 which shows:

  • the boundaries of the site
  • position of caravan standings
  • roads and footpaths
  • toilet blocks
  • stores
  • any other buildings
  • foul and surface water drainage
  • water supply
  • recreation spaces
  • fire points
  • parking spaces (for both occupiers and visitors)

Before applying you’ll need a:

  • Land Registry title deed for the site (we can supply these for a fee)
  • evidence of planning permission (if applicable)

We do not charge a fee for sites used only for holiday or touring caravans.

After selecting the below button you’ll need to:

  1. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  2. Select licensing.
  3. Select apply for a licence.
  4. Select caravans and camping.
  5. Select static holiday site.
  6. In application types select application for a static holiday site licence
  7. Follow the onscreen instructions.

Apply for a static holiday site licence

Transfer a static holiday site licence

You can transfer a licence if the existing licence holder no longer occupies the land. You can only transfer the licence to the new occupier of the land.

You’ll need to give us a site layout to a scale of not less than 1:500 which shows:

  • the boundaries of the site
  • position of caravan standings
  • roads and footpaths
  • toilet blocks
  • stores
  • any other buildings
  • foul and surface water drainage
  • water supply
  • recreation spaces
  • fire points
  • parking spaces

Before applying you’ll need:

  • a Land Registry title deed for the site (we can supply these for a fee)

We do not charge a fee for sites used only for holiday or touring caravans.

After selecting the below button you’ll need to:

  1. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  2. Select licensing.
  3. Select apply for a licence.
  4. Select caravans and camping.
  5. Select static holiday site.
  6. In application types select transfer a static holiday site licence
  7. Follow the onscreen instructions

Transfer a static holiday site licence

Vary a static holiday site licence

If you need to make a change to a static holiday caravan site licence you can let us know by selecting the button below.

You can only make limited amendments which include:

  • altering, adding or removing conditions of conditions
  • amending the site address (so long as it’s the same site)
  • changing contact address of site licence holder
  • updating the licence because we granted new planning permission
  • changing the site manager

If you need to make another amendment then you will need to submit a new application.

After selecting the below button you’ll need to:

  1. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  2. Select licensing.
  3. Select apply for a licence.
  4. Select caravans and camping.
  5. Select static holiday site
  6. In application types select application to vary a static holiday site licence.
  7. Follow the onscreen instructions

Vary a static holiday site licence

Fit and Proper Person application

Site manager application – Fit and Proper Person

From 1 July 2021 site owners will need to make an application for us to assess if the person or company managing the caravan site is Fit and Proper.

Your application will need to include the approved fee.

If the application is approved, the site manager will be added to the register of Fit and Proper Persons for up to 5 years.

We will be checking that the site manager:

  • is suitable to manage the site, for example they have relevant financial and managerial experience
  • has not committed any offences involving:
    • fraud or other dishonesty
    • violence
    • arson
    • drugs
    • certain sexual offences
  • has complied with relevant legislation relating to housing, caravan sites, mobile homes, public health, planning, environmental health or landlord and tenant law
  • has not broken the Equality Act 2010
  • has not been insolvent or disqualified from being a company director within the last 10 years
  • has the right to work in the UK
  • is a member of a complaints scheme which deals with complaints about the management of the site

We will publish the following information on our public register:

  • the site manager’s name
  • the site manager’s business contact details
  • the site name and address
  • whether the applicant is a site owner or site manager
  • any conditions attached to the inclusion
  • how long they are to be included in the register
  • rejected application information (until we grant a successful application for the site)

We will not include the site manager’s name if we reject the application.

If the application is approved, the site manager will be added to the register of Fit and Proper Persons for up to 5 years.

You will be committing a criminal offence if:

  • you do not apply for a licence by 1 October 2021
  • you provide false or misleading information or withhold information from the application
  • you fail to comply with a condition in the register

If convicted the site owner could face an unlimited fine.

Preliminary decision

If we refuse the application or want to add conditions to the application, we will send you a preliminary decision notice. You will have 28 days to make any written representations if you do not agree with our preliminary decision notice.

This notice will tell you:

  • the reasons for the decision
  • the date that the final decision will take effect
  • information about the right to make written representations
  • any consequences if you continue to use the land as a relevant protected site if we have refused the application
  • the consequences of failing to comply with any conditions we impose on the application

After the statutory 28 days we can make our final decision and we will send you a final decision notice.

The final decision notice will include:

  • the date of the final decision
  • what the final decision is
  • the reasons for the decision
  • when the decision is to take effect
  • information about any right of appeal including timescales for appeal
  • any consequences if you continue to use the land as a relevant protected site if we have refused the application
  • the consequences of failing to comply with any conditions we impose on the application

To apply

Before you apply you’ll need to have:

If you do not already have a DBS certificate:

After selecting the button below you’ll need to:

  1. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  2. Select licensing.
  3. Select apply for a licence.
  4. Select caravans and camping.
  5. Select Fit and Proper Person.
  6. Select application for inclusion on the Fit and Proper Person Register.
  7. Follow the onscreen instructions.

Submit a Fit and Proper Person application

Right to work in the UK

We have a legal duty to ensure that we do not issue any licences to any person who does not have the right to work in the UK.

If you do not have any immigration restrictions then to prove your right to work status you’ll need to supply ID from the following:

  • a passport which shows you are a British citizen or a citizen of the UK and colonies
  • a passport or national identity card showing you are a national of a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland
  • a registration certificate or document certifying permanent residence issued by the Home Office to you as a national of an EEA country or Switzerland
  • a permanent residence card issued by the Home Office to you as a family member of a national of an EEA country or Switzerland
  • a current biometric immigration document issued by the Home Office showing that you can stay indefinitely in the UK or that you have no time limit on your stay in the UK
  • a current passport endorsed to show that you are exempt from immigration control, that you can stay indefinitely in the UK, have the right of abode in the UK or have no time limit on your stay in the UK
  • a current immigration status document issued by the Home Office with an endorsement indicating that you are allowed to stay indefinitely in the UK or have no time limit on your stay in the UK together with an official document giving your National Insurance number and your name issued by a government agency or previous employer
  • a birth or adoption certificate issued in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Ireland together with an official document giving your permanent National Insurance number and your name issued by a government agency or an earlier employer
  • a certificate of registration or naturalisation as a British citizen together with an official document giving your permanent National Insurance number and your name issued by a government agency or an earlier employer

If there are immigration restrictions then to prove your right to work status, you’ll need to supply ID from the following:

  • a current passport endorsed to show that you can stay in the UK and are currently allowed to do this type of work
  • a current biometric immigration document issued by the Home Office which shows that you can currently stay in the UK and can do this type of work
  • a current residence card (including an accession residence card or a derivative residence card) issued by the Home Office issued to you as a non-European Economic Area (EEA) national who is a family member of a national of a EEA country or Switzerland or who has a derivative right of residence
  • a current immigration status document containing a photograph issued by the Home Office to you with a valid endorsement indicating you may stay in the UK and are allowed to do this type of work along with an official document giving your permanent National Insurance number and your name issued by a government agency or an earlier employer
  • a certificate of application issued by the Home Office under regulation 17(3) or 18A(2) of the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006 to you as a family member of a national of a EEA country or Switzerland stating you are permitted to take employment which is less than 6 months old together with verification from the Home Office Evidence and Enquiry Unit (the application may be granted for 6 months from the date of the certificate of application)
  • a verification issued by the Home Office Evidence and Enquiry Unit which shows that you may stay in the UK because you have an in-time application, appeal or administrative review which is outstanding

Public register of site rules

A residential site cannot have park rules if the rules have not been deposited with us.

Site rules are different to the licence conditions and have been put in place by the owner of the site.

We do not enforce the site rules and they are part of the contract between the homeowner and site owner.

The sites below have deposited their rules with us:

Aldingbourne Park [pdf] 579KB
Hook Lane, Aldingbourne, Chichester, PO20 3YR

Beechfield Park [pdf] 581KB
Hook Lane, Aldingbourne, Chichester, PO20 3XX

Climping Park pdf] 371KB
Bognor Road, Climping, West Sussex, BN17 5DW

Harbour View [pdf] 616KB
(formerly West Beach South) Rope Walk, Littlehampton, BN17 5DE

Havenwood Park [pdf] 536KB
Chichester Road, Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 0AH

Kandy Park [pdf] 595KB
Rope Walk, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 5DE

Longacre Park [pdf] 375KB
Maypole Lane, Yapton, West Sussex, BN18 0DR

Marigolds Park [pdf] 580KB
Shripney Road, North Bersted, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO22 9PB

Mill Farm [pdf] 525KB
Pagham Road, Pagham, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO21 3PZ

North Park [pdf] 597KB (formerly West Beach North)
Rope Walk, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 5DE

Orchard Park [pdf] 165KB
Worthing Road, Rustington, BN16 3PS

Poplars Park [pdf] 1MB
Shripney Road, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO22 9NL

Thornlea Court [pdf] 1MB
Lyminster Road, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 7PY

The Willows [pdf] 580KB
Ford Road, Ford, Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 0BU

Woodlands Park [pdf] 641KB
Main Road, Yapton, West Sussex, BN18 0E

Public register of camping and caravan sites

All camping and caravan sites licensed by us can be found on our public register.

To view the current camping and caravan sites licences you’ll need to select:

  • Licence Register tab
  • Caravan and campsites from the ‘Licence Description’ dropdown menu
  • Search

This will display the licences at the bottom of the screen.

Complaints and enforcement

We undertake regular inspections of all licensed caravan sites within our district.

We serve compliance notices to site licence holders where they have breached site licence conditions.

These notices tell the site licence holder:

  • which condition has been breached
  • the date that the breach should be resolved by

 

Failure to comply with the notice is a criminal office.

Our Environmental Health Officers have the right to enter a caravan site or land under an application for a caravan site licence so long as:

  • we have given 24 hours’ notice
  • entry is at a reasonable time

 

You should raise any concerns about conditions on your park with the park owner or operator. If they do not resolve the issue then please select the button below to register the complaint with us.

We can serve a compliance notice where site conditions are not met. Failure to comply with a compliance notice is a criminal offence.

We will need you to include details about the site and information on the complaint.

We will not investigate anonymous complaints. However, your details will remain anonymous unless the case goes before a court or Tribunal.

Harassment, intimidation and threats

We can prosecute site owners for offences of harassment or illegal eviction.

You should contact us and Sussex Police if:

  • you are evicted without a court order
  • you are harassed or intimidated into giving up your home
  • the site owner has carried out acts which are likely to interfere with your peace and comfort (for example, being aggressive or threatening to remove your home from the site)
  • you are threatened with services being withheld or withdrawn, for example electricity, water or gas
  • services have been withheld or withdrawn
  • you are prevented from exercising your rights, for example the right to sell your home
  • the site owner has given false or misleading information that could interfere with the sale of your home
  • you must tell the site owner if you want to sell your home and they insist they must agree to the sale
  • the site owner has insisted on approving your buyer
    • you do not need to give the site owner your buyer’s contact details or references
    • your buyer does not need to have contactor an interview with the site owner
  • the site owner has stopped you from using a solicitor or estate agent to sell your home
  • the site owner has made you or your buyer carry out a survey

Reasons a site owner or their representative may enter a pitch without prior notice between 9am and 6pm:

  • delivering written communications
  • reading service meters which they are responsible for

A site owner or their representative may also enter a pitch for essential repairs or emergency work. They must give you as much notice as possible.

If a site owner or their representative needs to enter a pitch for any other reason they must give you a minimum of 14 days written notice.

The notice must tell you the:

  • time they will attend
  • date of the appointment
  • reason for the visit

The site owner has no legal right to enter a home under any circumstances.

If they wish to meet with a homeowner, they cannot enter the pitch and insist on entry to the home.

A site owner would need to write to the homeowner to arrange an appointment but the homeowner does not have to agree to a meeting.

If your complaint does not relate to any of the above contact LEASE Park Home Advisory Service who provide impartial advice to residents and owners of residential mobile sites on the legal relationship between resident and site owner.

Lease Park Home Advisory Service

0207 8322525

We do not enforce site and park rules. You should contact the park owner/operator if you think the rules are not met.

If you are not happy with the response from the park owner/operator you can take your case to the First Tier Tribunal Property Chamber.

The Tribunal can settle certain types of dispute, for example

  • changing a residence agreement
  • changing the pitch fee
  • moving a park home
  • damage and repairs to the site
  • transferring ownership of a park home to someone else

If you need to tell us about a complaint you’ll need to register on our online portal.

After selecting the button below you’ll need to:

  1. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  2. Select requests.
  3. Select submit a request complaint.
  4. Select caravan sites in the request subject.

Follow the onscreen instructions.

Make a complaint

Campsites

You must have the correct planning permission in place before you apply for a campsite licence. You do not need a licence to run a campsite if any of the following apply:

  • the site is used for camping in tents (including trailer tents) for fewer than 42 days in a row
  • the site is used for camping in tents (including trailer tents) for fewer than 60 days in any 12 month period
  • you are a member of an organisation (for example, the Scouts) and have an exemption certificate
  • your site is approved by an organisation with a camping exemption certificate
  • members of an exempted organisation stay in their own tents on the site.

We may attach conditions to a licence, for example:

  • detailing how the site should be laid out
  • how many tents or moveable structures are allowed
  • what washing and toilet facilities should be provided.

If you disagree with the conditions, you can appeal to a local magistrates’ court.

Apply for a campsite licence

You’ll need to include copies of the following with your application:

  • scale plan of the site
  • planning permission (if applicable)

After selecting the below button you’ll need to:

  1. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  2. Select licensing.
  3. Select apply for a licence.
  4. Select caravans and camping.
  5. Select tent/camp site
  6. In application types select application for a tent or camp site licence.
  7. Follow the onscreen instructions.

Apply for a camp site licence

Amend a campsite licence

You should let us know if there are any changes to your campsite licence.

Please include any supporting documents.

There is no fee for this service.

 

After selecting the below button you’ll need to:

  1. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  2. Select licensing.
  3. Select apply for a licence.
  4. Select caravans and camping.
  5. Select tent/camp site
  6. In application types select application to vary a tent or camp site licence.
  7. Follow the onscreen instructions.

Amend a camp site licence

 

Transfer a campsite licence

You’ll need to include copies of the following with your application:

  • scale plan of the site
  • planning permission (if applicable)

There is no fee for this service.

After selecting the below button you’ll need to:

  1. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  2. Select licensing.
  3. Select apply for a licence.
  4. Select caravans and camping.
  5. Select tent/camp site
  6. In application types select application to transfer a tent or camp site licence.
  7. Follow the onscreen instructions

Transfer a camp site licence