Tented campsite licences

Tented camping sites

From 26 July 2023, campsites can accommodate up to 50 tents, motorhomes or campervans for 60 days per calendar year under 'Class BC' permitted development rights.

Should you solely wish to accommodate tents on site, you will only require a tented campsite licence if the site is operating:

for more than 42 days consecutively or
more than 60 days in total in any 12 consecutive months

Please note, the provisions under Section 269 of the Public Health Act 1936 apply solely to tents. Any campervans/caravans on the site will require a licence.

Further information pertaining to 60 day camping can be found on our exemption page.

Applications

Applications for site licences are made to the local authority in the area in which the land is situated. Before you apply for a licence, you should check that you have the necessary planning permission. The local authority will only issue a licence for a new site after it has received the necessary planning permission and a completed application for a site licence.

Once satisfied all the correct documentation has been provided, the local authority will determine your tent licence application within four weeks.

If approved, you will be provided with a tented campsite licence and the associated licence conditions. Alternatively should your application be refused, full reasons for this decision will be provided.

Anyone wishing to apply for a licence can apply online below.

Apply for a campsite licence online (tents only)

Fees

There is no fee for a tented campsite licence application.

Tent site licence conditions

For the purpose of regulating the use of tented campsites in the district, the licence will include various conditions that are designed to protect people using the site.

An example of our current license conditions for tented campsites can be found on our licence conditions for tent site page.

Appeals

We will provide you with a period of representation should you have any comments to make on any conditions attached to a licence.

Following this, if you are aggrieved by the refusal of a licence, or by any condition attached to your licence, you may appeal the Council’s decision.

Fire Precautions

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (the RRO) applies to caravan and camping sites. The local fire and rescue authority, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue are the main enforcers of the RRO, however council officers are still required to check that site owners are complying with the obligations under it. In particular, site owners must carry out a fire risk assessment and make this available to officers. This document will also be required as part of the application process.

The Government website Fire Safety Law and Guidance Documents for Business contains a range of helpful information for businesses on fire safety and the requirements of the RRO.

A risk assessment is required under the Fire Reform Order 2005. Further guidance and examples of risk assessments can be found on the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service website.

Public registers

We have a duty to maintain and display a public register of all of the licensed caravan and tented campsites in the district. Please see the links to the registers as follows:

Keeping us informed

You should notify us immediately in the event of any changes which may affect the validity of the site licence, so that the licence can be changed accordingly.

If the site is to be sold or transferred to another person or named body, a new licence will need to be prepared together with the current licence conditions, which will be forwarded to the new 'Licensee'. A site inspection may also take place at this time.