In short: there is no single set of caravan decking regulations covering the whole UK. What a deck can look like is set by the holiday park’s site licence conditions, the park’s own rules and the pitch agreement. The most common limit is the separation distance between neighbouring holiday homes, which decking, steps and ramps must not close up. Most parks also require written permission before decking is installed.
Adding decking to a caravan or holiday home can completely change the way a pitch looks and works. But before choosing the size, colour or style, there is something more important to sort out first – the requirements that apply to that particular park.
Search for caravan decking regulations and it can sound as though one set of national rules covers every deck. In reality it is more complicated than that.
What applies depends on the holiday park’s site licence, the conditions the local council has attached to it, fire safety considerations, the park’s own rules and the individual pitch. A deck that is perfectly acceptable on one holiday park may not be allowed on another.
For holiday park operators and holiday home owners, understanding this before decking is designed or installed saves time, cost and a good deal of frustration later.
This article provides general guidance only. The requirements for individual parks and pitches vary, so always check the relevant site licence conditions, park rules and local authority requirements before work begins.
“Regulations”, rules and licence conditions – what people actually mean
It is worth clearing up the language, because it causes a lot of confusion on site.
Very little about decking is set out in regulations in the strict legal sense. What people usually mean by caravan decking regulations is a mix of three different things:
- Site licence conditions – the legally binding conditions a council attaches to the park’s caravan site licence. The park operator has to comply with these.
- Park rules and the pitch licence agreement – contractual terms between the park and the holiday home owner. These can be stricter than the licence conditions.
- Model Standards and guidance – national documents councils refer to when deciding what conditions to attach. They are guidance, not law in themselves, but they shape most of what ends up in a licence.
That distinction matters, because it explains why two parks a few miles apart can give very different answers about the same deck.
Are there specific caravan decking regulations in the UK?
There is no single set of caravan decking regulations that dictates exactly what every deck must look like, how large it can be or which material must be used.
Most caravan sites need a licence from their local council. GOV.UK explains that councils can attach conditions to a caravan site licence, including conditions covering how a site is laid out. Read the GOV.UK guidance on caravan site licences.
Where things differ is which set of national standards a council starts from, and that depends on which of the four UK nations the park is in.
The four nations do not use the same standards
This is the part most articles on the subject get wrong. The detailed spacing guidance quoted throughout this article comes from the Model Standards 1989 for Holiday Caravan Sites, which were issued for England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland work from separate documents.
| Where the park is | What councils usually work from |
|---|---|
| England and Wales | Model Standards 1989: Holiday Caravan Sites, issued under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960. |
| Scotland | The model standards in Circular 17/1990, which the Scottish Government confirms still apply to holiday and touring caravan sites. The 2018 model standards cover residential sites only. |
| Northern Ireland | The Model Licence Conditions 2025, made under the Caravans Act (Northern Ireland) 1963, which replaced the 1992 and 1994 conditions from 1 July 2025. |
The broad principles are similar across all four nations – adequate space between units, fire safety, controls on what can be built on a pitch. The detail and the exact figures are not identical, so a park in Ayrshire or County Down should not be working from the England and Wales document.
On top of all of this, individual park operators may have their own requirements covering the size, appearance, materials and installation of decking.
The important point is simple: always check the requirements for the individual park and pitch before ordering or installing decking.
Why spacing is so important
One of the biggest considerations when planning caravan decking is the amount of space between neighbouring holiday homes.
Separation distances exist mainly to slow the spread of fire between units, and to give people room to get out. Anything built on the pitch – a deck, a set of steps, a ramp, a balustrade – eats into that space.
The figures councils usually start from
The table below sets out the figures in the Model Standards 1989 for Holiday Caravan Sites in England and Wales. Treat them as the starting point a council is likely to work from, not as the rule for your pitch – the conditions on the individual site licence are what actually apply.
| What it covers | Distance in the Model Standards 1989 |
|---|---|
| Spacing between static caravans made from aluminium or materials with similar fire performance | Not less than 5m between units, 3.5m at the corners |
| Spacing where units have a plywood or similar skin, or where aluminium and plywood units are mixed | 6m |
| Where the point of measurement is taken from | The exterior cladding of the caravan |
| Porches protruding into the separation distance | May protrude 1m, and should be of the open type |
| Eaves, drainpipes and bay windows | May extend in, provided at least 4.5m remains between the extremities of the two units |
| Ramps, verandahs and stairs extending from the unit | 3.5m clear space between them, or 4.5m where there is a mixture of caravan types. They should not face each other |
| Awnings | No closer than 3m to an adjoining caravan, and should not face each other or touch |
| Garages, sheds and covered storage between units | Only permitted if of non-combustible construction. Car ports and covered walkways are not permitted in the separation space |
| Site boundaries | A 3m wide area recommended to be kept clear inside all boundaries |
Two details in that table catch people out more than any others.
The first is that a verandah or deck is treated as a structure extending from the unit, so the clear space is measured between the structures rather than between the holiday homes. Two neighbouring decks can each look modest and still leave too little space between them.
The second is that where such a structure is enclosed, it may be treated as part of the unit itself – which means it should not intrude into the separation space at all. Adding a roof, solid sides or full-height screening to a deck can change how it is assessed.
This is why the available pitch size needs to be considered before deciding on a large side deck or a wraparound design. A layout can look perfect on paper and still not work within the spacing that applies to that park.
Decking and fire safety
Fire safety and spacing are closely connected.
Dorset Council’s health and safety guidance for caravan and camping sites highlights the need for adequate separation between units, controls on the construction of decking between them based on the site’s licence conditions and fire risk assessment, and warns against combustible storage underneath caravans or decking. See Dorset Council’s caravan site health and safety guidance.
There is also a separate legal duty sitting behind all of this. Fire safety on the common parts of a park is covered by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in England and Wales, and by the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 north of the border. That duty falls on the park operator, not the holiday home owner – which is a large part of why parks are careful about what gets built on a pitch.
For park operators, this makes it important to think about more than simply the dimensions of a deck. Position, construction, materials, storage underneath and the relationship with neighbouring units all form part of the wider fire safety picture.
Where several new pitches are being developed or upgraded at the same time, considering the decking at the initial layout stage makes this considerably easier.
Can a holiday park set its own decking rules?
Yes. Park rules and licence agreements can place additional requirements on what owners are allowed to install.
These might cover design, dimensions, colour or materials. A park may also require drawings to be approved before work starts, or specify which contractors are permitted to carry out installations.
This is one reason caravan decking should never be ordered simply by measuring the side of the holiday home and picking a preferred design.
Before confirming a deck, check:
- Whether permission is required from the park, and whether it needs to be in writing
- The maximum permitted deck dimensions
- Spacing requirements around neighbouring units
- Any rules covering materials, colours or styles
- Requirements for balustrades, gates, steps or ramps
- Fire safety requirements
- Whether there are restrictions on skirting or storage underneath the deck
- Whether an approved contractor must carry out the installation
- Any requirements for access to services underneath or around the holiday home
For holiday park operators, having a clear decking specification also helps create a consistent standard across the park rather than a different answer on every pitch.
Do caravan decking materials matter?
They can.
The park’s own rules or site licence conditions should always be checked first, but material choice also affects long-term performance, maintenance and appearance.
Traditional timber remains an option, while uPVC and composite decking have become popular choices for holiday homes because they generally need less maintenance.
Mayfield’s holiday park home decking range includes several options designed for both residential and commercial park environments.
The Mayfield Board, for example, is manufactured from recycled uPVC and is tested and certified to BS EN 16165 for slip resistance and BS EN 13501-1 for reaction to fire. Naming the standard is more useful than a general claim about testing, because it gives a park’s technical or health and safety team something they can actually check against a site’s fire risk assessment.
For commercial holiday parks installing decking across multiple pitches, products certified to recognised standards make a specification much easier to justify.
Slip resistance is worth asking about
Decking on a holiday park sees a lot of foot traffic, often in wet weather and often with children, luggage and hot tubs involved. Slip resistance is a practical safety point rather than a regulatory one, but it is the sort of thing that appears in a park’s own risk assessment, so it is worth having the test figures to hand when specifying a system.
Don’t overlook the decking subframe
The visible deck board gets most of the attention, but what sits underneath matters just as much.
The subframe provides the structural base for the whole installation and has to perform outdoors all year round.
Mayfield offers both treated timber and aluminium decking subframes for residential and commercial decking. Aluminium is an alternative for parks looking to reduce their reliance on timber – it is recyclable and resistant to moisture, insects and rot, which makes it particularly useful in exposed and coastal locations.
When planning new pitches, specifying the boards and subframe together means the whole decking system can be considered from the outset.
What about decking skirting and ventilation?
Skirting creates a much cleaner finish around a holiday home and deck, but it needs to be designed in rather than added as an afterthought.
The key issue is ventilation. Guidance from the British Holiday & Home Parks Association and the National Caravan Council covers skirting around the base of a caravan holiday home, and the consistent theme is that the space underneath needs to be adequately ventilated. Sealing it up too effectively can allow gas to collect, and that turns a cosmetic improvement into a hazard.
Park operators should check any requirements affecting the enclosure of the area beneath the holiday home, including fire safety, ventilation and access to services such as gas, water and electrics.
The same applies to what goes under the deck. Guidance repeatedly warns against storing combustible material underneath a caravan or its decking, and gas bottles should not be positioned in the separation space between units.
So the aim is not to close off every visible gap. A professional design can incorporate decking skirting while keeping the practical requirements of that installation in view.
Caravan decking regulations – steps, ramps and accessibility
Access is another area that should be settled before the deck is designed.
The Model Standards specifically recognise ramps and stairs as structures extending from a holiday caravan that affect the clear space between units. In other words, a ramp is not a small addition to sort out once the main deck is in – it is part of the spacing calculation.
Where accessible entry is needed, including the ramp in the initial layout makes it far easier to work through gradients, turning space, gates, handrails and the space actually available on the pitch.
Mayfield’s decking access ramps can be built into a wider deck design, with straight and return configurations depending on the pitch.
Does caravan decking need planning permission?
There isn’t a simple yes or no that applies to every holiday park.
The caravan site itself will normally operate under planning permission as well as a site licence, and a site licence generally cannot be issued until planning permission is in place.
Building Regulations are a separate matter again. Holiday caravans and lodges are generally treated as moveable structures rather than buildings, so they sit outside the Building Regulations regime that would apply to a raised deck on a house – and an accessory such as a deck is normally expected to be moveable too. That is a meaningful difference from domestic garden decking, where height above ground can trigger both planning permission and Building Regulations. We cover that side of things in our guide to decking planning permission.
Whether a particular decking installation raises additional planning considerations depends on the site, its existing permission, the scale and nature of the work and any conditions already attached.
For that reason, owners should speak to the park operator before making changes to a pitch. Park operators planning larger developments, extensions or substantial changes should check their position with the relevant local planning authority.
What happens if decking doesn’t meet the requirements?
This is the part worth understanding before the deck goes in rather than after.
Where a deck breaches the park’s rules or the site licence conditions, the usual outcome is that the park asks for it to be altered or removed, at the owner’s cost. The park has a strong incentive to act, because a breach of the licence conditions is the operator’s problem with the council, not the owner’s.
There can be knock-on effects too. An unapproved alteration may affect the position on insurance, and it can come up awkwardly when the holiday home is sold on or resited.
None of that is a reason to avoid decking. It is a reason to get the approval in writing first.
Who is responsible for checking the rules?
For an individual holiday home owner, the first step is almost always speaking to the park.
For a park operator, the starting point is the site’s own licence conditions, its planning position, its fire risk assessment and any other requirements applying to the development.
That becomes especially important when new holiday homes or several decks are being installed at once. Designing the decking around the pitch specification from the beginning makes it much easier to account for spacing, access, safety and consistency before installation teams arrive on site.
Why professional caravan decking installation matters
Caravan decking isn’t simply a collection of boards alongside a holiday home.
A good installation has to consider the holiday home, the pitch, ground conditions, subframe, deck height, access, steps, balustrades and the surrounding units together. It also has to meet the particular requirements of that park.
Mayfield works through a nationwide network of Approved Contractors who supply and install decking across holiday and residential parks.
For commercial park projects, working with an experienced decking supplier also makes it easier to plan consistent systems across several pitches rather than approaching each installation independently.
Planning for caravan decking regulations? Check first, design second
The main thing to remember is that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer.
The right decking for a pitch has to work within the site’s licence conditions, fire safety requirements, park rules and the space actually available.
So before choosing a large wraparound deck, specifying the balustrade or deciding on a colour, start with the practical requirements. Once those are understood, you can design an outdoor space that looks right, works properly and suits the park for years to come.
Mayfield has nearly 40 years of experience designing, manufacturing and supplying decking for holiday homes and commercial parks across the UK. If you want to get a feel for cost at the same time, our guide to caravan decking prices is a useful starting point.
Explore our holiday park home decking solutions, try the Sundeck Designer to sketch out an idea, or speak to the Mayfield team about decking for an individual pitch, park development or upcoming holiday home installation.
Caravan Decking Regulations – FAQs
Are caravan decking regulations the same on every holiday park?
No. Requirements vary according to the site’s licence conditions, local authority requirements, planning conditions and the park’s own rules. Always check what applies to the specific park before work begins.
Are the rules the same across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
Not quite. England and Wales work from the Model Standards 1989 for Holiday Caravan Sites. Scotland uses the model standards in Circular 17/1990 for holiday and touring sites. Northern Ireland moved to the Model Licence Conditions 2025 on 1 July 2025. The principles are similar but the detail differs.
How close can caravan decking be to another holiday home?
There isn’t one distance that safely applies to every installation. The Model Standards 1989 suggest a separation distance of 5m between units, or 6m for plywood-skinned or mixed units, with 3.5m clear space between verandahs, ramps and stairs, or 4.5m where caravan types are mixed. The figures on the individual site licence are what actually apply.
Do I need the holiday park’s permission before installing decking?
Most holiday parks require approval before decking or other external alterations are installed. Check the park rules and your pitch licence agreement before ordering, and get the approval in writing.
Can a holiday park specify which decking material I use?
Yes. A park can set rules governing the appearance and specification of pitches, which may include acceptable decking materials, colours or designs.
Can I install caravan decking myself?
That depends on the park. Many only permit approved or suitably qualified contractors to work on site. Even where it isn’t a requirement, professional installation helps make sure the deck is designed around the pitch, the access and the park’s requirements.
Does caravan decking need to meet fire safety requirements?
Decking affects the separation space between holiday homes, so fire safety has to be considered. The site’s licence conditions and fire risk assessment should be checked when designing and positioning decking, and combustible items should not be stored underneath.
Can I put skirting all the way around the deck?
Usually yes, but the space beneath needs to stay properly ventilated and services need to remain accessible. Sealing the area completely can allow gas to collect, so skirting should be designed in rather than added to close off every gap.
Does caravan decking need building regulations approval?
Holiday caravans and lodges are generally treated as moveable structures rather than buildings, so Building Regulations usually don’t apply in the way they would to decking at a house. Site licence conditions and park rules take their place. Always confirm the position with the park.
