Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960

26 Power of entry of officers of local authorities. E+W+S

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, any authorised officer of a local authority shall, on producing, if so required, some duly authenticated document showing his authority, have a right at all reasonable hours to enter any land which is used as a caravan site or in respect of which an application for a site licence has been made,—

(a) for the purpose of enabling the local authority to determine what conditions should be attached to a site licence or whether conditions attached to a site licence should be altered;

(b) for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is, or has been, on or in connection with the land any contravention of the provisions of this Part of this Act;

(c) for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not circumstances exist which would authorise the local authority to take any action, or execute any work, under this Part of this Act;

(d) for the purpose of taking any action, or executing any work, authorised by this Part of this Act to be taken or executed by the local authority:

Provided that admission to any land shall not be demanded as of right unless twenty-four hours notice of the intended entry has been given to the occupier.

[F1 (1A) A person may not be authorised under subsection (1) to enter and survey or value land in England and Wales in connection with a proposal to acquire an interest in or a right over land (but see section 172 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016).]

(2) If it is shown to the satisfaction of a justice of the peace—

(a) that admission to any land has been refused, or that refusal is apprehended, or that the occupier of the land is temporarily absent and the case is one of urgency, or that an application for admission would defeat the object of the entry; and

(b) that there is reasonable ground for entering on the land for any such purpose as is mentioned in subsection (1) of this section,

the justice may by warrant under his hand authorise the local authority by any authorised officer to enter the land, if need be by force:

Provided that such a warrant shall not be issued unless the justice is satisfied either that notice of the intention to apply for the warrant has been given to the occupier, or that the occupier is temporarily absent and the case is one of urgency, or that the giving of such notice would defeat the object of the entry.

(3) An authorised officer entering any land by virtue of this section, or of a warrant issued thereunder, may take with him such other persons as may be necessary.

(4) Every warrant granted under this section shall continue in force until the purpose for which the entry is necessary has been satisfied.

(5) A person who wilfully obstructs any person acting in the execution of this section, or of a warrant under this section, shall be liable on summary conviction[F2 —

(a) where the wilful obstruction occurs in relation to land in England, to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale;

(b) where the wilful obstruction occurs in relation to land in Wales,]

to a fine not exceeding [F3 level 1 on the standard scale].

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 26(1A) inserted (13.7.2016) by Housing and Planning Act 2016 (c. 22), s. 216(3), Sch. 14 para. 5; S.I. 2016/733, reg. 3(h) (with reg. 6)

F2 S. 26(5)(a)(b) inserted (E.W.) (1.4.2014 for E.) by Mobile Homes Act 2013 (c. 14), ss. 13(2), 15(2); S.I. 2014/816, art. 2 (with art. 3)

F3 Words substituted by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss. 38, 46 and (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), ss. 289F, 289G