Campsite road signage in the UK: What’s allowed?

What signs do I need for my campsite?

At the very least you will need a sign at the entrance to your Hipcamp to indicate where it is. Undoubtedly, this is essential to help people navigate to the right place and to know they’ve arrived but it can also work as an advertisement to passing trade. If you operate as a member of an exempted club or organisation (The Greener Camping Club or The Camping and Caravanning Club, for example) you may be obliged to display your affiliation to the club at the entrance too.

It can be a good idea (subject to legal restrictions) to advertise, or signpost to, your Hipcamp from a bit further away; via your own sign or a tourist information brown sign. In addition, there are a number of signs you will need within your campsite to help Hipcampers find their way around; some of these are not just sensible but important to health and safety and a prerequisite for getting a campsite licence.

Can I put up a sign at the entrance of my campsite?

There are strict laws around advertising but, generally, any non-illuminated sign, advertising any business up to 0.3 of a square metre is allowed to be used to advertise the business taking place at a particular premises. Restrictions on advertising are set out in the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2007. You can read more about it on the government’s planning portal and there’s more specific advice in their guide to Outdoor Advertisements and Signs.

The general rule described above is a deemed consent (ie: does not need planning permission) allowed by Class 2(b). If you want to use a sign that’s larger than 0.3 of a square metre, then it’s worth noting that Class 2(c) allows hotels, hostels, and boarding houses to display advertisements up to 1.2 square metres at their premises. This may be applicable to campsites too but, as these regulations are monitored and enforced by the local planning authority (either the council or National Parks Authority), you should consult them first if you want to use a sign larger than 0.3 of a square metre.

Can I put road signs up elsewhere?

Anything other than an advertisement with deemed consent, all of which are summarised in the government’s guide to Outdoor Advertisements and Signs, has to have the permission of the landowner and planning permission. If your idea for extra advertising does not have deemed consent, you will need to apply to the local planning authority for permission.

How do I apply for brown tourist signs for my campsite?

An alternative to your own sign signposting your Hipcamp is a brown tourist sign. These are available only to attractions and facilities. For facilities (which includes campsites) brown signs can only be placed on minor roads and A roads (not motorways). If it’s a major A road (a trunk road), the deciding authority in England is the Highways Agency. In Scotland, applications should go to Transport Scotland and first need an accreditation letter from Visit Scotland. In Wales, the deciding authority is the Welsh Assembly. In Northern Ireland, and for more minor roads in the rest of the UK, campsites must apply to the local authority which is responsible for the road network (usually a county or borough council). There is further advice on brown signs in Northern Ireland on the Tourism NI website.

Wherever you apply for a brown tourist sign, there are minimum requirements (such as having a campsite licence, at least 20 pitches, being a permanent facility that’s open at least 150 days in a year, and so on). There is also a cost associated with brown signs. Most campsite signs will be managed by local authorities who charge a non-refundable assessment fee, which is sent with an application (typically £100–£250). They will also have a charge for a site visit and sign design (approximately £300) and finally, there’s a charge for purchase and installation.

As a guide, for budgeting, our research shows that this would be a minimum of £300, for a small sign. In total the cost for a brown sign is around £850. For signs on major roads, which are the responsibility of the Highways Agency, the cost can be between anywhere £8,000 and £20,000. The whole process can take between six and nine months.

Signage on your Hipcamp

Once campers are on site, signage is still important. It makes sense to have signs pointing out the toilets, drinking water, and other facilities on your Hipcamp, especially if you are operating a larger site, but there are some things which are necessary by law too. Your campsite licence (or the terms of an exemption certificate) will likely spell out what the requirements for signs on site are. Some may be specific to your particular environment but the published Model Standards for Touring Sites gives the main examples required at every camping or caravan site. These include:

• The name of the site prominently displayed at the entrance
• A sign indicating any non-potable water where appropriate (ie: at the rinsing tap for chemical disposal point)
• A sign at the fire points along with a notice describing the action to be taken in the event of a fire
• A sign displaying the way to contact each of the emergency services, along with the nearest doctor, the nearest telephone, and the campsite address
• A copy of the site licence. 
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  This article was created by the Hipcamp team based on our years of experience, research, and local understanding. However, please note that this is still only our interpretation of UK regulations and does not constitute legal advice. Hipcamp does not accept responsibility for errors and omissions. Different conditions may apply depending on your individual circumstances and we recommend seeking professional advice on implementing the rules.

  This article was first published on 18th March 2023.