Apply for a caravan and camping site licence.
Licence summary
To run a caravan and camping site you need a licence from the council.
There may be conditions attached to a licence these include:
- restricting when caravans can be on the site for human habitation or restricting the number of caravans that can be on the site at any one time
- controlling the types of caravans on the site
- controlling the positioning of the caravans or regulating the use of other structures and vehicles including tents
- to ensure steps are taken to enhance the land, including planting/replanting bushes and trees
- fire safety and fire fighting controls
- to ensure that sanitary and other facilities, services and equipment are supplied and maintained
Eligibility criteria
The applicant must be entitled to use the land as a caravan site.
Licences will not be issued to applicants who have had a site licence revoked within three years of the current application.
Regulation summary
A summary of the regulation relating to this licence
Application evaluation process
Applications for site licences for sites in the Bristol City Council area are made to Bristol City Council.
Applications should detail the land the application concerns and any other information required by the council.
Will Tacit Consent apply?
Yes. This means that if you have not heard from the council within the target completion period of 40 days you will be able to act as though your application is granted. Please note this period will not commence until a complete application has been submitted.
Apply online
No application fee is required for this application.
Apply to run a caravan site or camp site (gov.uk website)
Tell us about a change to your existing caravan or camp site (gov.uk website)
Apply by post
Submit your document application form (137 KB) to Private Housing.
Applicant complaints
Please contact the council at first with any issues you have. If a licence holder is refused an application to alter a condition they may appeal to the local Magistrates' court. The appeal must be made within 28 days of the written notification of the refusal and a notice of appeal must be served on the council.
You are advised to take up any issue with the council first.
If a licence holder wishes to appeal against a condition attached to a licence they may appeal to the local Magistrates' Court. The appeal must be made within 28 days of the licence being issued.
The council may alter conditions at any time but must give licence holders the opportunity to make representations about the proposed changes. If a licence holder disagrees with the alterations they may appeal to the local Magistrates' court . The appeal must be made within 28 days of the written notification of the alteration and a notice of appeal must be served on the council.
Consumer complaint
We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, the Citizens Advice consumer service will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre .
Bristol City Council will investigate complaints about noise disturbance or pollution from caravan and camping sites.
Caravan sites: Fit and proper person
The Mobile Homes (Requirements for Manager of Site to Fit and Proper) (England) Regulations 2020 Go to https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2020/9780348209556 (opens new window) introduced a fit and proper person test for mobile home site owners or the person appointed to manage the site, unless exempted by the Regulations.
It requires site owners and occupiers to be fit and proper persons to manage caravan sites. Non-statutory government guidance on the fit and proper person test Go to https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mobile-homes-fit-and-proper-person-test-guidance-for-local-authorities/mobile-homes-a-guide-for-local-authorities-on-the-fit-and-proper-person-test (opens new window) has also been published.
Site owners operating a relevant protected site must apply after 1 July 2021 to us for the relevant person (themselves or their appointed manager) to be included in the local register of fit and proper persons to manage a site. Relevant protected sites include both residential parks, which are used exclusively residentially, and mixed use parks, which are used for both residential and holiday purposes. A site owner may only apply if they hold or have applied for a site licence for the site.
From 1 October 2021, unless the site is exempt, the site owner must either be a fit and proper person to lawfully operate a park home site or have a fit and proper site manager in place.
A site is exempt if it's "a non-commercial family occupied site". This is a site only occupied by members of the same family and not being run on a commercial basis.
What a fit and proper person is
To be sure that the relevant person is a fit and proper person to manage the site, and to add them to the register, we will consider:
- the owner's past compliance with the site licence
- the long-term maintenance of the site
- whether the person has a sufficient level of competence to manage a site
- the management structure and funding arrangements for the site or proposed management structure and funding arrangements
We also consider whether the relevant person:
- has the right to work within the UK
- has committed any offence involving fraud or other dishonesty, violence, arson or drugs or listed in Schedule 3 to the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (offences attracting notification requirements)
- has contravened any provision of the law relating to housing, caravan sites, mobile homes, public health, planning or environmental health or of landlord and tenant law
- has contravened any provision of the Equality Act 2010 in, or in connection with, the carrying on of any business
- has harassed any person in, or in connection with, the carrying on of any business
- has had an application rejected by any other local authority
- is or has been personally insolvent within the past 10 years
- is or has been disqualified from acting as a company director within the last 10 years
We also may consider the conduct of any person associated or formerly associated with the relevant person, whether on a personal, work or other basis, if it appears that person's conduct is relevant. We can also consider any evidence on any other relevant matters.
Fit and proper person application form
Complete the pdf fit and proper person application form (174 KB) .
Return completed application forms to:
Private Housing Team (100TS)
Bristol City Council
PO Box 3399
Bristol
BS1 9NE
Or email private.housing@bristol.gov.uk
Register of Mobile Homes Fit and Proper Persons
pdf The Register of Mobile Homes Fit and Proper Persons (107 KB) details those considered to be fit and proper persons to manage a residential mobile home site.
You can find a paper version of the register at the council offices.
For more information, email private.housing@bristol.gov.uk
Residential Mobile Homes site rules
We're required by the Mobile Homes (Site Rules) (England) Regulations 2014 to publish a register of site rules for protected sites in our area.
We don't control and are not liable for the content of any site rules. They're submitted to us by site owners. Issues or queries relating to any of the site rules must be directed to the owner of the site.