Your opportunity: Rent out a motorhome pitch and benefit from the wanderlust of others

The interest in creating a Rent a motorhome pitch is growing and growing - and for good reason. With over one million registered motorhomes in Germany and a record 42.9 million overnight camping stays in 2024, the market for private pitches has become mega attractive. More and more property owners are discovering the possibility of Rent a motorhome pitch privately generate additional income while offering motorhome travellers unforgettable experiences in the countryside.

However, before you as a private provider Rent a private motorhome pitch to campers you must observe various legal framework conditions, which can vary considerably depending on the country and region. This comprehensive guide will guide you through the legal jungle in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other European countries and show you the specific steps you need to take to operate your motorhome pitch in a legally compliant manner.

Germany: Motorhome pitch hire in the federal system

In Germany this is Rent a motorhome pitch a rather complex matter of federal and state law. The legal basis can mainly be found in the German Building Code (BauGB), especially in sections 34 and 35, which regulate what is permitted for outdoor pitches. There is also nature conservation law with special requirements in nature conservation areas, trade law if you are setting up commercially, as well as various reporting obligations for the accommodation statistics and tourism tax.

The special thing about the German system is that each of the 16 federal states has its own camping regulations. For Baden-Württemberg, the Campsite Ordinance BWBavaria has its own Bavarian Camping Ordinance. Berlin regulates camping via the Berlin Campsite Ordinancewhile Brandenburg has its Camping ordinance has.

The northern German states are also doing their own thing: Bremen with the Bremen Camping Ordinance and Hamburg with the Hamburg Camping Ordinance. Hesse regulates camping via the Hessian Camping Ordinancewhile Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is Camping Ordinance M-V at the start.

For Lower Saxony, the Lower Saxony Camping Ordinance, North Rhine-Westphalia has its Camping Ordinance NRW published. Rhineland-Palatinate regulates camping via the State ordinance on campsitesthe Saarland via the Saarland Camping Ordinance.

Of course, the eastern federal states also have their own regulations: Saxony with the Saxon Camping OrdinanceSaxony-Anhalt with the Camping Ordinance Saxony-AnhaltSchleswig-Holstein with the Camping Ordinance S-H and Thuringia with the Thuringian Camping Ordinance.

If you are a private provider Rent a motorhome pitch the first thing you should do is check the Building Utilisation Ordinance (BauNVO) for your property and contact the local authority for a preliminary building application. Then you need to consult the special camping regulations of your federal state and, in the case of commercial use, register a business with the IHK or the municipality. Applying for a building permit from the building inspectorate, registering with the employers' liability insurance association and taking out public liability insurance are other important to-dos.

In addition, you must fulfil the fire protection and safety requirements, register with the tourism statistics of the State Statistical Office and clarify the visitor's tax or bed tax with the municipality. Important points of contact for advice are the IHK Germany for commercial questions, the BVCD e.V. as the federal association of the camping industry and the German Tourism Association.

Austria: Regional planning as a state matter when renting a parking space

In Austria this is Rent a motorhome pitch privately is similarly complicated as in Germany due to the federal structure. Spatial planning is a matter for the federal states, which means that each of the nine federal states has its own regulations. Building regulations also vary from state to state. There are special rules for "farm holidays", an established system for farmers, while the trade regulations set out the nationwide rules for commercial camping.

Vienna regulates spatial planning via the Vienna Building CodeLower Austria via the Lower Austrian Spatial Planning ActUpper Austria via the Upper Austrian regional planning lawStyria via the Styrian Spatial Planning ActCarinthia via the Carinthian Spatial Planning ActSalzburg via the Salzburg Spatial Planning Act, Tyrol via the Tyrolean Spatial Planning ActVorarlberg via the Vorarlberg Spatial Planning Act and Burgenland via the Burgenland Spatial Planning Act.

The process to Rent a private motorhome pitch to campers in Austria starts with a look at the zoning plan of your municipality and a call to the municipal administration for information on spatial planning. If you have an agricultural business, you need to register via "Holiday on the farm" an option, while for other companies a business registration with the Chamber of Commerce may be necessary. The necessary steps include obtaining a building permit from the building authorities, a possible operating licence, registering with the state tourism statistics, registering for the local tax with the municipality and taking out public liability insurance.

Important points of contact in Austria are the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber for questions regarding trade law, "Urlaub am Bauernhof Österreich" as a specialist for agricultural businesses and the Austrian Camping Club for advice on all aspects of camping.

Switzerland: RPG and strict zoning

Switzerland is Rent a motorhome pitch particularly strict. The Spatial Planning Act (RPG) is the basis at federal level and makes a clear distinction between building and non-building zones. Camping is mainly permitted in building zones or requires an exceptional licence in non-building zones, which is difficult to obtain. In addition, each of the 26 cantons has its own laws, which leads to quite a patchwork of rules. Although agricultural law has special provisions, these are also subject to clear conditions.

You can find important cantonal laws for Zurich in the Cantonal planning and building lawfor Berne in the Building Act of the Canton of Bernefor Lucerne in the Planning and Building Act and for St. Gallen in the local Planning and Building Act.

At the Rent a motorhome pitch privately In Switzerland, you must first check the zoning regulations of your municipality to see whether your property is in a building or non-building zone. Talk to the municipal building authority at an early stage to clarify the situation and take a look at the cantonal planning and building law. If your property is located in a non-building zone, you need to find out whether an exemption licence is even possible. A building permit from the municipality and, depending on the canton, an operating licence are also mandatory.

For tax purposes, you must register for VAT with the Federal Tax Administration, register for AHV/IV/EO contributions with the compensation office, pay the tourism tax to the municipality and take out business liability insurance. Important institutions are the Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE) for questions on spatial planning, the Swiss Camping Association as a professional association and the Swiss Farmers' Union for advice on agritourism.

France: PLU system and "Camping à la ferme"

With its PLU system (Plan Local d'Urbanisme), France has developed a cool structure for the Rent a private motorhome pitch to campers. The local development plan determines what is permitted. The "Camping à la ferme" system is particularly ingenious for farmers, allowing up to six pitches on the farm without any major authorisation. The Code de l'urbanisme sets the national framework, while a Déclaration préalable (a kind of advance notification) at the Mairie (the mayor's office) is sufficient for smaller sites.

Your journey in France starts with a look at the PLU of your municipality and, if you are a farmer, proof that you can use "Camping à la ferme". A Déclaration préalable at the Mairie is required for up to 20 pitches, for more than 20 pitches you need a Permis d'aménager (a kind of building permit). Registration with the Préfecture for commercial camping, a SIRET number from the Chamber of Commerce, insurance (Responsabilité civile professionnelle), optional classification by Atout France, registration of the taxe de séjour (tourist tax) with the municipality and accounting and tax obligations are further important steps.

Helpful contact points are Service-Public.fr for official information on camping permits, which FFCC as the French camping association and the Chambres d'Agriculture France for advice on agritourism.

Italy: Agricampeggio and regional diversity

Italy has a strongly regionally characterised system of Rent a motorhome pitch. Each region has its own camping laws. One great thing is "Agricampeggio", which facilitates camping on farms with special rules. The SCIA procedure provides a simplified registration procedure for smaller facilities, while the Codice del Turismo sets out the national framework laws.

The process first requires that you check the regional camping laws, as each region has different rules, and that you provide proof of your agricultural activity for Agricampeggio. A permit from the municipality (Comune) for the site, a SCIA (a certified notification of commencement of activity) from the municipality, a permit from the health authority (ASL) for sanitary facilities and a certificate from the fire brigade (VVF) for fire protection are required. In addition, you must apply for a Partita IVA (VAT number), register with the Chamber of Commerce, make an INPS/INAIL registration for social security and register for the regional tourism tax.

Important Italian institutions are the Ministero del Turismo, Confagricoltura as an agricultural association for agritourism and FAITA as the Italian camping association.

Poland: Agroturystyka system for farms

With its Agroturystyka system, Poland has developed a simple solution for agricultural businesses in the Rent a motorhome pitch privately. The Ustawa o usługach turystycznych (Tourism Services Act) and the Prawo budowlane (Building Act) regulate the construction of buildings, whereby up to seven rooms or parking spaces allow simplified registration without a trade licence.

The process requires proof that you have an agricultural business for agroturystyka, registration with the municipal office (Gmina) for tourist services and entry in the CEIDG (Central Register of Economic Activity). In the case of structural changes, you will need a building permit and authorisation from the Voivodeship Sanitary Inspectorate. The application for a NIP number (tax number), a REGON number (statistical number), ZUS registration (social insurance), liability insurance for tourist activities and registration of the local tourism tax with the municipality round off the requirements.

Helpful Polish institutions are the Ministerstwo Rozwoju i Technologiiwhich Polska Federacja Turystyki Wiejskiej as the Polish Federation for Rural Tourism and KRUS as agricultural social insurance.

Netherlands: Complex spatial planning

The Netherlands has a particularly complex system of spatial planning with strict requirements for the Rent a private motorhome pitch to campers. The new Omgevingswet (Environmental Act) since 1 January 2024, the Bestemmingsplan (local land use plan), which determines the permitted use, and the comprehensive Omgevingsvergunning (environmental and building permit) characterise the system.

The process starts with checking the municipality's taxation plan and applying for an Omgevingsvergunning. You must apply for a KvK number at the Chamber of Commerce and a BTW number (VAT number) at the tax office. A recommended RECRON-Membership for industry standards, a fire safety certificate for sanitary facilities, fulfilment of environmental requirements for waste water and waste, taking out insurance (Aansprakelijkheidverzekering), registration of tourism tax with the municipality and implementation of occupational health and safety regulations (ARBO) are also required.

Important Dutch institutions are the Rijksoverheid for information on spatial planning, RECRON as the Dutch association for leisure companies and LTO Netherlands as an agricultural organisation for agritourism.

Denmark: Planning law with nature conservation requirements

Denmark regulates the Rent a motorhome pitch the Planning Act (Planungsloven) with zoning into summer, rural and urban areas. The Naturbeskyttelsesloven (Nature Conservation Act) imposes strict conditions, while the Byggeloven (Building Act) applies to fixed installations and the Udlejningsloven (Letting Act) to tourist use.

The Danish process requires you to check the zoning classification (summer, rural or urban), apply for a byggetilladelse (building permit) from the municipality and obtain a CVR number (company number) from the Erhvervsstyrelsen holst. The nature conservation requirements must be checked (especially near the coast), a fire protection permit for sanitary facilities and an environmental permit for waste water are required. Applying for a Moms number (VAT number) from the SKAT tax authority, complying with the Arbejdstilsynet (labour inspectorate) for safety regulations, taking out insurance (Erhvervsansvarsforsikring) and registering for tourism tax with the municipality complete the requirements.

Danish institutions are the Erhvervsstyrelsen as the Danish Business Authority, the Campingrådet as the Danish Camping Council and the Landbrugs- og Fiskeristyrelsen as land and fisheries management for agritourism.

United Kingdom: Planning Permission System

The UK uses a system of Planning Permission for new campsites and Permitted Development Rights, which allow 60 days camping per year without permission. The Caravan Sites Act governs the licensing of permanent pitches, while the Town and Country Planning Act sets out the general planning framework for land use.

At the Rent a motorhome pitch privately In the UK, you must first check the Permitted Development Rights (60 days per year without permission), apply for a Planning Permission from the Local Planning Authority and apply for a Site Licence under the Caravan Sites Act. The Building Regulations for sanitary facilities must be observed, Business Rates must be registered with the Local Authority and Public Liability Insurance must be taken out. A Fire Risk Assessment must be carried out, VAT registration with HMRC must be completed if required, a licence from Environmental Health for food businesses must be obtained and registration with the Local Tourism Authority must be completed.

British institutions are GOV.UK for official government information on the Planning Permission, The Camping and Caravanning Club and the NFU (National Farmers' Union) for farm camping.

Successful implementation when renting out a motorhome pitch

The Rent a motorhome pitch in Europe requires careful preparation and that you observe the country-specific regulations. Universal success factors include early contact with the authorities to avoid trouble later on, professional advice from a lawyer and tax consultant, decent insurance cover and realistic cost planning. Investing in legal protection pays off in the long term and enables you to make your project a success. Rent a motorhome pitch privately sustainably and successfully.

Every country and every region has its own special features, but with the right preparation and the right contacts with the relevant authorities and professional associations, you can successfully enter the market as a private provider. Rent a private motorhome pitch to campers and make both your guests and yourself happy in the long term.