Overview

To occupy or run a caravan and camping site you must have planning permission to use the land for that purpose.

A caravan is any structure, designed or changed for human occupancy, which can be moved from one place to another (towed or transported), provided its size is less than 18m in length, 6m wide and 3m in height.

Tents and railway carriages on rails within the railway system are not included in the definition of a caravan.

A caravan site licence is not required for:

  • Incidental use within the garden of a dwelling house
  • Single caravan used by a person for not more than two nights and 28 days in 12 months
  • Land of five acres or more, if occupancy is not more than 28 days in 12 months, and a maximum of three caravans at any time
  • Sites occupied and run by exempted organisations such as the Caravan Club
  • Sites approved by exempted organisations for up to five caravans
  • Meetings organised by exempted organisations
  • Agricultural and forestry workers
  • Building and engineering sites
  • Travelling showmen
  • Sites operated and owned by a local council, county councils or regional councils

Apply for a caravan and campsite licence

Licences will not be issued to applicants who have had a site licence withdrawn within three years of the current application.

You must first obtain planning permission from our Planning and Regeneration Services, who can be contacted at planning.admin@gravesham.gov.uk.

Once planning permission has been obtained you need to apply for a licence from our Regulatory Services by completing the application form below. During the application, you will be required to upload the following supporting documentation:

  • Site plan (including all of the facilities mentioned in the application)
  • Planning permission/Established use certificate

Applications must contain satisfactory information on the following:

  • Its location
  • Details of the hardstanding it is going to sit on
  • Means of fire control
  • Disposal of refuse
  • Disposal of foul waste
  • Details of clean drinking water supply

Licence fees

The fees for new licences are divided into two parts: Part A, which is payable upon application, and Part B, which must be paid by successful applicants before their licence will be issued.

You will be invoiced for Part A when your application is received, the invoice must be paid immediately. The Part B fee will be invoiced before your licence is issued if your application is successful.

The current fees are as follows:

Caravan site fees
Type of licence Fee payable
New Application for Site Licence - Band 1 (1-5 Pitches) Total £128.00
New Application for Site Licence - Band 1 (1-5 Pitches) Part A Payable on application £95.00
New Application for Site Licence - Band 1 (1-5 Pitches) Part B Payable on grant £33.00
New Application for Site Licence - Band 2 (6-24 Pitches) Total £575.00
New Application for Site Licence - Band 2 (6-24 Pitches) Part A Payable on application £430.00
New Application for Site Licence - Band 2 (6-24 Pitches) Part B Payable on application £144.00
New Application for Site Licence - Band 3 (25-99 Pitches) Total £722.00
New Application for Site Licence - Band 3 (25-99 Pitches) Part A Payable on application £541.00
New Application for Site Licence - Band 3 (25-99 Pitches) Part B Payable on application £181.00
Annual Fee - Band 1 £0.00
Annual Fee - Band 2 £220.00
Annual Fee - Band 3 £293.00
Transfer of Site Licence - Band 1 £32.00
Transfer of Site Licence - Band 2 £74.00
Transfer of Site Licence - Band 3 £74.00
Variation of Site Licence - Band 1 £63.00
Variation of Site Licence - Band 2 £159.00
Variation of Site Licence - Band 3 £159.00
Depositing site rules with Local Authority - Band 2 and 3 £63.00