Campsite licensing

To use land as a campsite, for tents, motorhomes and touring caravans, you will normally require a camping and/or caravan licence as well as planning permission.

There are some exemptions to these requirements, and this page explains when you will need a licence and the circumstances under which a licence is not needed.

Tented camping sites

If you intend to operate a campsite for tents, campervans or motorhomes, but not caravans, for more than 60 days in any 12 consecutive months, or more than 42 consecutive days you are likely to require a campsite licence under Section 269 of the Public Health Act 1936. However, please check so see if any of the exemptions discussed further down this page apply. 

Campsite licence application form (Word doc, 61 KB)

There is no fee for this application.

You will need to include with your application a scale plan of the site and a copy of the planning permission (if relevant).

Campsite licences are normally issued with conditions, including:

• how the site should be laid out
• how many tents / motorhomes or touring caravans are allowed
• what toilet and washing facilities should be provided

Exemptions from a licence

A campsite licence will not be required if the tent or moveable dwelling:

• the site is a temporary tented campsite
• 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

if the tent or moveable dwelling:

• is occupied in connection with a house by the homeowner or their household
• is kept by its owner on agricultural land occupied by them for seasonal farming use
• is stored in that location only

Temporary tented campsite

You do not need a campsite licence if the site is a temporary pop-up campsite which is used for camping for no more than 42 consecutive days, or for no more than 60 days in any 12-month period. However, there are other requirements which you will need to adhere to, including limits on the number of tents, and you must first check with the relevant planning authority - either New Forest District Council Planning or New Forest National Park Planning Authority - depending on the location of the proposed site, to ensure their requirements are met:

• New Forest District Council Planning: Pop Up Campsites in the Forest.
• New Forest National Park Planning: Temporary Campsites in the National Park

Find out who your planning authority is here: NFDC Planning/New Forest NPA Areas Map

Additional information on recreational organisation exemptions

Under Section 269 of the Public Health Act 1936, members of recreational organisations which hold a camping exemption certificate can camp on land without a site licence and without the need to apply for planning permission. Camping exemption certificates are for recreational organisations that organise camping for their members on sites belonging to them, or on other sites with the landowner's permission.

You can apply for a camping exemption certificate using the link below. You can also renew an existing certificate.

Apply for a camping exemption certificate

Although camping exemption certificates do not permit touring caravans which are covered by separate legislation, you can also apply for a touring caravan exemption certificate using the link above. Further information on touring caravan exemptions are available by following the link. 

Contact us

If you have any questions about a licence application, or need to transfer or amend an existing licence, email eandr@nfdc.gov.uk or call 023 8028 5411.