The 28 Day Camping Rule and How It Relates To Glamping

What is the 28 day camping rule? To most people it sounds like it’s a great way to camp without having to worry about getting kicked off the land you’re using for your glamping site.

However, in reality this is not always the case because there are some things that can get you into trouble with local or state authorities if they find out about them.

In the U.S., the 28 day camping rule refers to dispersed camping on public land that is not to exceed 14 days within a 28 day consecutive period. However in the UK, this rule allows the use of land for multiple purposes (camping, events, etc.) for up to 28 days in a calendar year without needing a permit.

You need to make sure that everything on your site complies with these rules and regulations so you don’t end up getting fined or shut down altogether!

So in this article, we are going to explore some of the intricacies of the 28 day camping rule that not many people know about.

Do You Need Planning Permission For A Small Campsite?

It seems that there is more bureaucracy than ever before in the Land of the Free, with various agencies wanting their pound of flesh from anyone who is looking to set up anything from a lemonade stand to a campsite.

And it’s not just the United States that is under heavy regulation. No matter where you are in the world, you will likely need planning permission for a campsite regardless of the size.

This applies to anyone who is looking to set up a campsite for temporary use as well.

Why is this necessary?

The reasoning behind this is that there needs to be the ability for agencies and councils to monitor things such as noise, littering, pollution from waste or your affect on wildlife. The campsite will have a permit of use which sets out what activities are permitted (e.g., camping), what hours it can operate throughout the year and for how many people.

Local planning authorities are responsible for assessing the application and issuing a permit.

The activities permitted will depend on whether it is in or out of season, so check with your council before you start pitching tents!

What Is Planning Permission

Think you can just pitch a tent wherever you want for camping and celebrations? You need to ask the government first (unless you’re in Seattle or Portland).

Planning permission is a request to your local governing authorities for official permitted use of land and permission to use that land for a specific purpose.

A permit is required for the use of land that affects its usage, and it can be granted by a planning authority. The person or organization applying for permission will need to provide detailed drawings about how they intend on using the land, as well as what kind of buildings or structures (if any) are proposed in order to get approval before construction.

The person or organization will also need to provide details about where and how the land is accessed, including documents such as surveys. If you’re planning on holding a public event or have parking for large vehicles, this kind of information must be provided in order to get approval before construction.

This applies to everything from attaching a deck to your house, setting up a gazebo in your backyard, to erecting a temporary campsite.

Who Needs To Apply For Planning Permission

Planning permission is required if you are making any changes to the purpose of a building. One example would be turning residential property into commercial space.

However, in the case of setting up a glamping site you will need to get permission for changing the use of land to an official campsite. We reached out to a local county official who told us:

“Camping in Island County outside of legally established campgrounds is illegal. This includes staying overnight in tents, RV’s, “Tiny Homes”, yurts, wall tents, etc…There is a way to legally establish a campground via the Site Plan Review process, but feasibility and approval depend on the zoning and site characteristics of the parcel in question. Anything that is slept in overnight outside of a legally established campground is going to need to meet all applicable building, health department, and public works requirements. There are a lot of “glamping” camp sites appearing these days, advertising on various websites, and the vast majority of them are operating illegally.”

Island County Planning Office

But where does the 28 day rule come in? It appears that if you intend to start a glamping business, you must first establish your property as an official campsite here in the United States.

This means that you cannot so much as pitch a tent in your own backyard unless it meets strict requirements, as doing so would be illegal and running a glamping business would put you in the crosshairs of enforcement action.

How Do You Get Planning Permission?

As mentioned above, the person we contacted suggested that there is a way to become a legally established campsite via the Site Plan Review, but did not offer any further guidance to the process.

However, it appears that this will be a costly endeavor since it includes a feasibility study, zoning, building inspections and compliance with public works including the health department.

Each local county will have their own requirements and regulations for establishing a legal campsite. Therefore, it’s important to consult with the appropriate jurisdiction in order to be aware of any specific regulations or restrictions for your area.

Planning Permissions In The UK

Similarly, if you’re in the UK then you will also need planning permission with the local authorities for establishing a campsite.

However, you may be able to use the 28 day camping rule for temporary use (more on that below).

This can be a very complex and confusing process, so we recommend consulting a lawyer to make sure you’re doing it the right way so you can stay out of trouble.

How Long Can You Stay On A Campsite?

Depending where you are in the world will determine the local regulations, especially in the United States where rules can vary from county to county.

In many States a person can establish residency by occupying a property for as little as 14-28 days, so many private campsites will limit the amount of time that you can stay to somewhere in that range.

How Does The 28 Day Camping Rule Work?

One of the biggest differences in permitted development projects is how the 28 day camping rule is defined, because there is a big difference between the United States and the UK.

In the United States, it generally applies that on public land you can stay on a campsite for 14 consecutive days in a 28 day period, but will need to pack up and move out of the area at least 25 miles away until the 29th day since you initially occupied the area.

Sounds ridiculous, but this is what happens when you don’t put bureaucrats on a tight leash.

However, in the UK you can use the 28 day rule for almost any temporary use of land without needing to get a permit. But this is 28 days in a calendar year, which has been extended to 56 days because of the pandemic.

Plus this is only applicable between certain times of the year. If you’re in the UK, Pitch Up has a great post on the requirements for following this rule.

Why Would You Want To Use This Rule

If you’re in the United States, the 28 day rule only applies to public land for private camping purposes. If you were looking to start a glamping business, this wouldn’t apply to you at all.

However in the UK, you might want to use the 28 day rule to see the feasibility of operating a glamping business before investing further into development.

Final Thoughts

This 28 day rule is great for public land camping, but it doesn’t appear to apply to commercial purposes unless you’re in the UK.

You will need to gather all the necessary permits and licenses and do the proper research before operating a glamping site, which is going to be more or less restrictive depending on the jurisdiction you’re operating in.

One thing is for certain, you’ll want to get the proper permitted use before installing any temporary structures like tents and outhouses, and you may even need to hook up to utilities for public safety regulations.