Caravan site licensing

If you want to use land to use land as a caravan site in the New Forest, you're likely to require a caravan site licence. This applies to

permanent residential sites - often known as mobile home sites, park home sites or relevant protected sites. This includes sites containing a single residential caravan.
permanent holiday caravan sites
touring caravans or motorhome sites - often as part of a campsite

Before you can apply to operate a caravan site, you must hold planning permission or a certificate of lawfulness. Without relevant planning permission, you cannot apply for a site licence.

On this page:

Apply for a caravan site licence

You can apply to us for a caravan site licence using the GOV.UK online form below.

Apply for a caravan licence

Alternatively, you can download an application form below.

Caravan site licence application form (PDF, 91 KB)(opens new window)

Complete the application form and send it to us via email to eho.office@nfdc.gov.uk. A fee may be payable - see below for information.

Licence fees

Residential caravan sites are subject to fees as detailed below. There is no fee for holiday caravan sites. Current fees for residential site licences (2024-25) are listed below.

application for a new residential caravan site (single pitch): £565
application for a new residential caravan site (more than one caravan): £800
multiple licensed site annual fee due on 1 September: £14.00 per permitted caravan
transfer of site licence: £192
alteration of conditions attached to an existing site licence: £392
depositing site rules: £94

Licence conditions

If we issue a licence, we may attach conditions to cover any of the following:

when caravans can be on the site
restricting the number and type of caravans that can be on the site at any one time
controlling the positioning and spacing of caravans from each other, the site boundary and site roads
regulating the use of other structures and vehicles including tents
enhancing and/or preserving the land including planing/replanting bushes and trees
sanitary services, facilities and equipment
water supply and drainage, on site electrics and gas, and refuse disposal
information to be displayed on the site

Site licence conditions in the New Forest are based on model standards set by the Secretary of State. You can view the relevant Model Standards below.

Caravan Site Model Standards 2008 (PDF, 611 KB)(opens new window)

Some older sites were licensed with reference to previous 1989 model standards. Newer sites are licensed with regard to the 2008 model standards. Should a site owner wish to update the conditions, for example if the site has been substantially redeveloped, we will consider the interests of both residents and the site owner in the determination of the proposed condition changes.

Apply to alter licence conditions

A licensee can apply to us to alter the conditions using the application form below:

Alter a caravan site licence conditions application form (PDF, 79 KB)(opens new window)

Complete the application form and send it with the necessary documents via email to eandr@nfdc.gov.uk.

A fee of £392 must accompany the application for a residential site. There is no fee for a holiday site.

If the proposed changes are likely to impact upon other residents of the site, we will ask you to consult with them on the proposal. Once we have all the information that we require, we will discuss your request with you and seek to reach agreement on any amended conditions. In the unlikely event that we do not agree to alter the conditions, a means of appeal exists to the Southern Region Residential Property Tribunal for residential sites and to the local magistrates court for other sites.

Transfer a licence

If you are planning to buy, sell or transfer a relevant protected site you should contact us before doing so to check whether we can accept an application for the transfer of a licence or grant a new licence in replacement of the existing one. This approach should also ensure that a tentative decision can be reached in advance of a formal application.

If you have acquired the lease or ownership of a licensed caravan site, you will need to apply to transfer the existing licence. Please used this form to apply:

Transfer of caravan site licence application form (Word doc, 58 KB)(opens new window)

Complete the application form and send it to us via email to eandr@nfdc.gov.uk.

A fee of £192 must accompany an application for a residential or mixed residential/holiday caravan sites. There is no fee for a solely holiday site.

As part of any application, we may require additional information. We are under a duty to exercise discretion, and cannot grant or approve a transfer without making relevant enquiries into the proposed licence holder's suitability.

Exemptions from licensing

You may not need a caravan site licence if any of the following exemptions apply:

sites occupied and supervised by exempted organisations which are awarded an Exemption Certificate issued by Natural England on behalf of Defra. An example of an exempted organisation is the Camping and Caravanning Club. Exempted organisations may approve the use of land for
- all year caravan sites for up to 5 caravans - known as Certified Locations
- unlimited tent camping pitches see Recreational organisation exemptions for more information
- social get-together of exempted organisations, for example a rally of caravan club members
- unlimited member only rallys for not more than 5 days
incidental use of a caravan (e.g., as an additional bedroom) within the curtilage of a house
caravans occupied by seasonal workers (e.g., fruit pickers), forestry workers, builders, staying in caravans on site
a single caravan used by a person for not more than two nights in one location, totalling not more than 28 days in 12 months
use of land of five or more acres, where three caravans or fewer are stationed for 28 days or less a year
council-owned and operated caravan sites

Licensing Fees Policy

Our Relevant Protected Site Licensing Fees Policy explains how we have determined the fees to charge for the work that we undertake in relation to permanent residential caravan sites. It sets out the fees that are payable and what exemptions apply in relation to the following activities:

application for a new licensed site
annual fees for administration and monitoring of licences
transfer of a site licence
alteration to conditions on an existing licence
depositing of site rules and their publication

You can download this policy document below.

Relevant protected site licensing fees policy (PDF, 173 KB)(opens new window)

This policy and the charges do not apply to holiday caravan sites. Our licensing activities in relation to holiday caravan sites are not charged for.

Information for residents

If you live permanently in caravan or park home, useful information on your rights and obligations can be found at information for park homes residents in England. In addition, helpful Government funded advice is available for park home residents from the Leasehold Advisory Service.

Contact us

For further information and advice please contact us at eandr@nfdc.gov.uk, or telephone 023 8028 5411.