What Is a Certificated Site (CS)? Everything You Need to Know

If you've looked into running a small campsite in the UK, you've probably come across the term Certificated Site. It's one of those phrases that sounds official and slightly confusing, but the concept behind it is straightforward. A Certificated Site is simply a small, inspected camping pitch that operates under the umbrella of the Camping and Caravanning Club.

Whether you already own a CS or you're thinking about applying for one, this guide covers everything you need to know, from the basics of what a CS actually is through to the day-to-day realities of running one well.

What exactly is a Certificated Site?

A Certificated Site, usually shortened to CS, is a small campsite that has been inspected and approved by the Camping and Caravanning Club. Like its counterpart the Certificated Location (CL), a CS is limited to a maximum of five pitches at any one time. The key difference is which club it falls under. A CS is certified by the Camping and Caravanning Club, while a CL is certified by the Caravan and Motorhome Club.

CS sites operate under an exemption from the normal site licensing requirements set out in the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960. This means you don't need a full local authority site licence to run one, as long as you meet the Club's standards and stick to the five-pitch limit. It's a legal framework that has been in place for decades and has made it possible for thousands of landowners across the UK to welcome campers without the cost and complexity of a full commercial site licence.

Guests on a CS tend to be members of the Camping and Caravanning Club. They're typically experienced campers and tourers who enjoy quieter, more rural settings. Many CS visitors are looking for a peaceful spot away from the busier commercial parks, and they value the personal, friendly experience that a small site offers.

How does a CS differ from a CL?

This is one of the most common questions new site owners ask, and it's a fair one. On the surface, CS sites and CL sites look very similar. Both allow a maximum of five units. Both are exempt from full site licensing. Both attract touring guests who prefer smaller, quieter locations.

The main differences come down to the certifying body and the membership requirements.

• Certifying club. A CS is certified by the Camping and Caravanning Club. A CL is certified by the Caravan and Motorhome Club. Each club has its own application process, inspection criteria, and directory listing.
• Guest membership. Guests staying on a CS generally need to be members of the Camping and Caravanning Club. CL guests need to be members of the Caravan and Motorhome Club. Some site owners hold certification from both clubs and can accept members of either.
• Unit types. CS sites tend to be more flexible when it comes to tent camping alongside caravans and motorhomes. CLs historically focused more on caravans and motorhomes, though this has evolved over time.
• Inspection standards. Both clubs inspect sites before granting certification, but the specific criteria and inspection process differ slightly. The Camping and Caravanning Club places emphasis on the overall camping experience, including the setting and the welcome guests receive.

In practice, many landowners choose to become both a CS and a CL. This opens up your site to members of both clubs and effectively doubles your potential audience. If you're interested in the CL side, we have a separate guide for CL site owners that goes into more detail.

What do you need to run a CS?

The requirements for running a Certificated Site are deliberately kept manageable. The whole point of the CS system is to make it accessible for landowners who have suitable ground but don't want to build a full-scale campsite.

Here's what you'll typically need:

• Suitable land. Your pitches need to be on reasonably level, well-drained ground that can support the weight of a caravan or motorhome. Grass is fine, but it needs to hold up in wet weather.
• Fresh water supply. Guests need access to clean drinking water, whether that's a tap connected to mains water or another approved supply.
• Waste disposal. You need to provide a way for guests to dispose of chemical toilet waste (a chemical disposal point or CDP) and grey water.
• Safe access. Vehicles towing caravans need to be able to get in and out safely. The entrance should be wide enough, and the approach road should be suitable for larger vehicles.
• Public liability insurance. This is essential. You're inviting members of the public onto your land, and your standard home or farm insurance almost certainly won't cover campsite activities. Speak to a specialist insurer.

You don't need to provide showers, toilets, a reception building, or electric hook-ups, although many CS owners choose to offer hook-ups as a way to attract more bookings. The guests who stay on CS sites are generally self-sufficient and carry their own facilities in their caravan or motorhome.

Getting started: the application process

To become a CS, you apply directly to the Camping and Caravanning Club. The process involves filling in an application form, providing details about your land and facilities, and then having the site inspected by one of the Club's representatives. The inspector will check that your site meets the required standards and will advise on anything that needs to be addressed before you can open.

You may also want to check with your local planning authority. While the CS exemption covers the site licence itself, you may still need planning permission for any physical changes to your land, such as installing hardstandings, building a new access track, or erecting signage. It's better to check first than to discover a problem after you've already invested money in groundwork.

Once certified, your site will appear in the Camping and Caravanning Club's directory, which is a significant source of bookings for most CS owners. Club members actively search the directory when planning trips, so having a good listing with clear photos and an accurate description makes a real difference.

Managing bookings on a CS

This is where the day-to-day reality kicks in. When you first open, bookings tend to trickle in. A phone call here, a text message there. Most new CS owners reach for a paper diary or a wall calendar, and at first it works perfectly well. You jot down the name, the dates, and maybe a phone number, and that's that.

The trouble starts when your site gets busier. Peak season, bank holidays, and sunny weekends fill your five pitches quickly. You're taking calls while you're out walking the dog. Your partner takes a booking on a scrap of paper and forgets to transfer it to the diary. Someone calls to cancel but you're driving and make a mental note that you later forget. Before long, you've got gaps you didn't know about and overlaps you didn't intend.

With only five pitches, there's no room for error. A double booking on a 200-pitch holiday park is an inconvenience. A double booking on a CS means turning someone away at the gate.

Common challenges CS owners face

Double bookings

The single biggest headache for CS owners. It almost always happens because bookings are being taken in more than one place, whether that's two family members using different diaries, or a phone booking that never made it onto the calendar. With five pitches, there's nowhere to move a guest when things go wrong.

No-shows and late cancellations

A guest books your last pitch for a bank holiday weekend. You turn away three other enquiries. Then they don't show up. Without a deposit or a cancellation policy, you've lost that income and there's nothing you can do about it. Taking even a small deposit dramatically reduces no-shows.

Record keeping

The Camping and Caravanning Club can ask to see your records during inspections. They want to know that you're operating within the five-pitch limit and keeping track of who has stayed. Flicking through a dog-eared diary looking for a specific weekend in June isn't ideal. Clean, organised records make inspections painless and give you useful data about your busiest periods.

Guest communication

Guests want to know how to find your site, where to pitch, and what time they can arrive. Answering the same questions by phone or text dozens of times each season gets tedious. Having a way to send consistent arrival information saves you time and gives guests a better experience.

Going digital: why it makes sense for CS owners

A digital booking system might sound like overkill for five pitches, but the right tool isn't a bloated enterprise platform. It's a simple, mobile-friendly diary that does what your paper one does, only without the mistakes.

A digital booking diary gives you a clear, colour-coded view of your pitches. You can see instantly what's booked, what's available, and who's arriving today. It prevents double bookings automatically because the system knows when a pitch is already taken. And because it lives on your phone, you can check availability and add bookings from anywhere, whether you're in the kitchen, in the field, or at the supermarket.

CampSuite is built specifically for sites like yours. It's completely free for CS and CL sites with up to five pitches on our Express plan. Not a 14-day trial. Not a cut-down version. The full booking diary, guest records, and pitch management, all at no cost. We built it this way because we believe small site owners deserve proper tools without having to pay for software designed for large holiday parks. You can see the details on our pricing page.

Tips for new CS owners

If you're just getting started or thinking about applying for your CS, here are a few things that experienced site owners wish they'd known from day one.

• Set clear arrival and departure times. It avoids the awkward overlap where one guest is trying to leave while another is trying to arrive. Most CS owners settle on a midday changeover.
• Take a deposit. Even a small amount, collected at the time of booking, dramatically reduces no-shows. Guests who have paid something are far more likely to turn up or cancel in good time.
• Write a short arrival guide. Include directions, gate codes, pitch layout, and waste disposal instructions. Send it to every guest before they arrive. It cuts down on phone calls and makes a good first impression.
• Keep your Club listing up to date. Good photos, an accurate description, and clear details about what you offer will bring in more bookings than a bare-bones entry.
• Ask for feedback. Happy guests are usually happy to leave a review if you ask. Positive reviews in the Club directory are one of the best ways to fill your pitches.
• Start simple. You don't need electric hook-ups, a shower block, or a camp shop to run a successful CS. Focus on the basics: a level pitch, a warm welcome, and a clean site. You can always add extras later as demand grows.

Ready to get started?

Whether you're already running a Certificated Site or you're in the early stages of applying for one, the right tools make everything easier. Sign up for CampSuite's free Express plan and swap the paper diary for something that works wherever you are. It takes about 15 minutes to set up, there's no card required, and it's free for sites with five pitches or fewer.