What Facilities Does a Campsite Legally Need in the UK?

If you're setting up a campsite in the UK, you need to know what facilities you're legally required to provide. The rules aren't always straightforward — they vary depending on your site type, size, location, and whether you're in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland. But getting the basics wrong can mean failed inspections, licence refusals, or worse.

This guide covers the legal requirements for campsite facilities in England and Wales, with notes on where Scotland and Northern Ireland differ.

Site Licensing: The Starting Point

In England and Wales, most campsites need a site licence issued by the local authority. This is separate from planning permission — you need both. The licence is granted under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 (for touring caravans and motorhomes) and the Public Health Act 1936 (for tent camping).

Your local authority's environmental health team will inspect your site and attach conditions to your licence. These conditions specify the minimum facilities you must provide.

Toilet Facilities

Legal Requirements

You must provide adequate toilet facilities for the number of guests on your site. The standard guidance used by most local authorities is based on the Model Standards for Camping Sites (published by DCLG):

These are guidelines rather than rigid legal minimums — your local authority may set different ratios as conditions of your site licence. The key requirement is that facilities must be "adequate" for the number of guests you accommodate.

Practical Standards

• Toilets must be connected to mains drainage or an adequate private treatment system (septic tank or package treatment plant)
• They must be kept clean and in good working order at all times
• Adequate lighting must be provided to and within toilet facilities
• Hand washing facilities with hot and cold running water and soap must be available

Shower Facilities

Showers are not strictly a legal requirement for basic tent campsites, but in practice:

• Most site licence conditions require them for sites with more than a handful of pitches
• Guest expectations make them effectively essential — a site without showers will struggle to get bookings
• Glamping sites are expected to provide showers as standard, either shared or en-suite

Recommended Ratios

• 1 shower per 10-15 pitches is the typical standard
• Hot water must be available at all times the site is in use
• Water temperature should be thermostatically controlled to prevent scalding — TMV (thermostatic mixing valves) are recommended
• Non-slip flooring and adequate drainage are essential for safety

Drinking Water

You are legally required to provide access to clean, potable drinking water. This is a non-negotiable requirement under public health legislation.

• Mains water supply is the simplest option — connect to the local water main
• Private water supplies (boreholes, springs) are permitted but must be tested and registered with your local authority's environmental health team. Regular testing for bacterial contamination is required under the Private Water Supplies Regulations 2016
• Water points should be provided at reasonable intervals across the site — the standard guidance suggests no pitch should be more than 100 metres from a drinking water point

Fire Safety

Fire safety on campsites is covered by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and your site licence conditions. Key requirements include:

Pitch Spacing

• Minimum 6 metres between caravans (measured between the nearest points, not the tow bars)
• Minimum 3 metres between tents — though many local authorities now recommend 6 metres
• Adequate separation between glamping units — typically 6 metres minimum, more for units with wood-burning stoves

Fire Extinguishers and Equipment

• Fire extinguishers must be provided at clearly marked fire points throughout the site
• Recommended ratio: 1 fire point per 30 pitches or less, with no pitch more than 50 metres from a fire point
• Each fire point should include at minimum a water extinguisher and a dry powder extinguisher
• Extinguishers must be serviced annually by a certified engineer
• Fire buckets (filled with sand or water) at each fire point are also recommended

Campfire and BBQ Rules

• If you allow campfires, they must be contained in designated fire pits with adequate clearance from tents and structures
• Clear rules about campfire use should be communicated to guests on booking and on arrival
• Fire-lighting should only be permitted in low-wind conditions and never during very dry spells

Emergency Access

• Fire service vehicles must be able to access all parts of the site
• Internal roads must be at least 3.7 metres wide with no obstructions
• Emergency vehicle turning points must be provided on dead-end roads

Waste Disposal

General Waste

• Adequate bins must be provided for the number of guests on site
• Waste must be collected regularly — daily during peak season for food waste
• Commercial waste collection must be arranged (you can't use domestic wheelie bins for a campsite business)
• Recycling facilities are increasingly expected by guests and may be required by your local authority

Chemical Toilet Disposal

• If you accept caravans and motorhomes, you must provide a chemical toilet disposal point (CDP)
• The CDP must be connected to the foul drainage system, not surface water drains
• Fresh water for rinsing must be available at the CDP — clearly labelled as non-drinking water

Grey Water

• Washing-up facilities or designated grey water disposal points should be provided
• Grey water must not be disposed of directly onto the ground or into watercourses

Electrical Hook-Ups

If you provide electrical hook-ups, they must comply with BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations) and be installed and certified by a qualified electrician.

• Socket outlets must be weatherproof (IP44 rated minimum) and designed for outdoor use
• RCD protection (residual current device) must be fitted to each hook-up outlet or circuit
• Maximum cable run from the guest's unit to the hook-up should be no more than 25 metres
• Bollards or posts should be installed at a height that prevents trip hazards and water ingress
• Annual PAT testing and periodic electrical inspections (at least every 5 years) are required

Accessibility Requirements

Under the Equality Act 2010, you have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure disabled guests can use your services. For campsites, this means:

• At least one accessible toilet and shower facility for sites above a certain size
• Level or ramped access to shared facilities where reasonably practicable
• Clear signage including tactile or high-contrast signs where possible
• Information about accessibility available on your website and booking system, so guests can make informed decisions

The key phrase is "reasonable adjustments" — you're not expected to rebuild your entire site, but you should be making genuine efforts to accommodate disabled guests within the constraints of your site and budget.

Additional Requirements

Lighting

• Adequate lighting for all paths, roads, and shared facilities
• Toilet and shower blocks must be well lit at all times of use
• Consider light pollution — guests want enough light to be safe but not so much it ruins the camping experience

Site Office / Contact Point

• There should be a clearly identified point of contact for guests, with emergency contact details displayed prominently
• A landline telephone or reliable mobile signal should be available for emergency calls

Information Display

• Emergency contact numbers (site owner, emergency services)
• Site rules and fire safety instructions
• Location of the nearest hospital and GP surgery
• Site licence details (must be displayed publicly)

Putting It All Together

The legal requirements can feel overwhelming, but most of them are common sense and good practice. The key steps are:

1. Contact your local authority's environmental health team early — they'll tell you exactly what conditions your licence will include
2. Get your facilities right before you open — retrofitting is always more expensive and disruptive than getting it right first time
3. Keep records of all inspections, tests, and maintenance — electrical inspections, water testing, fire extinguisher servicing, and cleaning schedules
4. Review your compliance annually — regulations change, and your local authority may update licence conditions

Meeting the legal minimum is the baseline. The campsites that get the best reviews and the most repeat bookings go beyond the minimum — they provide facilities that are clean, modern, well-maintained, and genuinely pleasant to use. That's the standard to aim for.