Can You Live in a Caravan on Your Own Land in the UK?

Short answer: usually not as your main home without planning permission. Owning land does not automatically give you the right to live on it in a caravan, static caravan, motorhome or mobile home. Short, occasional stays are treated very differently from living there.

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What counts as a caravan in law?

The Caravan Sites Act 1968 defines a caravan as a structure designed or adapted for human habitation that can be moved, by towing or on a vehicle. For a twin-unit caravan the size limits are usually quoted as up to 20 metres long, 6.8 metres wide and 3.05 metres internal height. Something bigger or permanently fixed is treated as a building instead, with building regulations and stricter planning scrutiny.

Do I need planning permission?

Placing a caravan on land and living in it is normally a change of use of the land. That generally needs planning permission. If you are granted permission, the site may also need a caravan site licence from the local authority, and a licence can only be issued for land that has planning permission for use as a caravan site.

What about the “28 days” rule?

In England, national rules allow some temporary uses of land for a limited number of days a year without a planning application. People often read this as “I can live there for 28 days”. It is not that simple:

It is aimed at temporary, occasional uses, not making a home.
Some uses depend on the type of land and whether a licence exemption applies.
Rules in Wales and Scotland are different in detail; check locally.

When is a caravan allowed?

Ancillary use: a caravan within the grounds of a house, used as part of the household (for example by family), can be permitted development in some cases. It must not be lived in as a separate home.
While building a house: temporary accommodation on site while you build a home that has planning permission is commonly accepted, but check conditions.
Licensed caravan sites: a licensed residential site is designed for this.
Full planning permission: where the council grants residential caravan use, sometimes on a temporary basis, for example in a One Planet Development.

England, Wales and Scotland

The principle is the same across the UK: a site licence normally requires planning permission for a caravan site, and permanent residential use needs consent. The detail differs. In Scotland, sites for year-round residential use are licensed under Part 1A of the 1960 Act, and exemptions for short stays use the same 28-day style limits. Always ask the council that covers your land.

What if there is already a caravan on the land?

Long-standing residential use can, in some circumstances, become lawful and a certificate of lawfulness can be applied for. This depends on evidence of continuous use over many years and is not something to plan a purchase around. If a seller says “it has always been fine”, ask to see proof.

Practical steps

Check the planning history of the land on your council’s website.
Ask the planning department what would be allowed, before buying.
Look at the wider picture: water, drainage, access and neighbours all matter. Our Land & Planning Due-Diligence Pack gives you a repeatable checklist.
Read planning permission for off-grid homes and is it legal to live off grid in the UK.

FAQ

Can I live in a static caravan on my own land? Only with the right planning permission for residential use, and usually a site licence.

Can I live in a motorhome or campervan on my own land? The same principle applies: living in it as a home is a change of use.

Can I put a caravan on my land for a holiday? Short, occasional stays may be possible; the details depend on the land, the country and how the caravan is used.

Sources

General information for the UK, not legal or professional advice. Rules differ between nations and change over time; check with your local planning authority and a qualified professional before acting. Last checked: September 2026.