Bans & Fines
Councillors in Gwynedd have claimed that some motorhome and campervan users are emptying chemical toilet waste into rivers and leaving litter at beauty spots. Problems were raised at a Cyngor Gwynedd meeting, with hotspots including Y Foryd in Caernarfon, Morfa Bychan near Porthmadog, Nant Gwynant, Llanberis and Yr Wyddfa. The council backed a motion to consider further measures to tackle inappropriate parking and overnight stays, despite four pilot Arosfan sites for motorhomes.
Since June 2026, a municipal ordinance in Llanes, Asturias, has prohibited motorhome parking outside designated areas, overnight stays in any parking zone, and the deployment of camping equipment on public streets. About 325 fines were issued during the first season: roughly 25 in June, 60 in July and 240 in August. The fine is 500 euros, reduced to 250 euros for early payment. The municipality has 86 designated motorhome spaces. Mayor Enrique Riestra stated the measure aims to ensure coexistence, not to raise revenue.
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The municipality of Palafrugell, which governs the coastal village of Llafranc, has begun installing height barriers (gálibos) to restrict motorhome and camper van access to certain car parks. The restrictions stem from rising tourist numbers and the growing popularity of camper travel. As an alternative, the Vilaroma Palamós area is open year-round for motorhomes, while Calle de Pella i Forgas in Palafrugell offers only service points for water refill and waste disposal. Parking and overnight stay rules are set by municipal ordinances and can vary by season and location.
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Portugal
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On 21 September in the municipality of Sines, Portugal, the GNR conducted a raid against camping and caravanning outside authorised locations. 31 administrative offence reports were filed.
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The municipality of Llanes in Asturias issued more than 360 fines to owners of motorhomes and camper vans over the summer of 2025. About 20 fines were issued in June, 60 in July and 260 in August; local police conducted night patrols. Mayor Enrique Riestra said the measures aim to protect beaches such as Cué and Cuevas del Mar, not to raise revenue. Fines were issued for wild camping and overnight stays in vehicles; putting out chairs, tables or awnings, or hanging clothes on mirrors, incurs a 500 euro fine. Violations in a natural park carry a 3000 euro fine. Most fines have been appealed.
The Palo Alto City Council voted on Aug. 24 to ban RV dwellers from all residential streets and to permit 37 RVs on two roads at the edges of the city. The city counted 133 RVs on the streets in May. Mayor Vicki Veenker, running for a second term, said she has a couple leads on more off-street parking where more RV dwellers could temporarily live, but she wasn’t ready to provide more details. She also wants larger employers like Stanford and Google to provide parking for their employees living in RVs.
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The Wardt district committee reported an increase in illegal overnight stays by motorhomes at the Xanten North Sea parking area. Deputy chairman Ralf Graumann said this year has seen more cases of motorhomes staying overnight despite a ban, with waste tanks sometimes emptied into bushes. The issue is to be discussed with the Xanten leisure centre.
Up to 30 illegally parked RVs are recorded daily on Washington Blvd in Venice. Authorities enforce rules inconsistently despite restrictions and the upcoming 2028 Olympics.
Authorities in South Tyrol reported 15 violations during a nationwide crackdown on wild camping. A previous coordinated operation had recorded 21 cases. Overnight stays on public land are banned in the province; camping is allowed only at official campsites and designated motorhome pitches. Tourism councillor Luis Walcher said the issue should not be taken lightly, and authorities will continue joint inspections.
Councillor Cai Larsen will propose regulating overnight stays in inappropriate locations. Issues reported at Llyn Padarn, Hirael Bay and other areas.
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The local police in Sant Antoni de Portmany, Ibiza, issued 41 fines of €30,000 each during the summer for illegal camping and overnight stays in motorhomes and caravans on rural land. Patrols covered areas including Sa Talaia, Sant Rafel, Santa Agnès, Buscastell, Ses Variades, Sa Serra, Can Germà, Cala Salada, Punta Galera and the Camí des Regueró area. The enforcement is based on municipal coexistence ordinances, the 1997 law on rural land in the Balearic Islands and the 2024 law on vehicle influx control in Ibiza. Authorities cite the risk of forest fires from cooking and power generation equipment in wooded areas.
Stirling consults residents on parking trailers, motorhomes and caravans on residential verges. Mayor Mark Irwin cites safety as the main reason.
In Iphofen, motorhomes repeatedly park at the local cemetery when spaces at the Einersheimer Tor site are occupied. Mayor Dieter Lenzer called it a nuisance. The city plans to respond, with fines under consideration.
The civic association Kantara-2010 told a temporary environmental committee at Varna Municipal Council that about 60 caravans and campers remain on the Varna municipality side of the Pasha Dere area, while removal actions have begun on the Avren municipality side. According to coordinator Katya Kircheva, after the regional governor's order, police, forestry, fire and regional administration representatives visited the Avren side, explained required actions to owners, and caravans began leaving. An interagency inspection in August found more than 50 caravans, canopies, tents and cars in the forest fund above the Pasha Dere beach, and seven caravans in forest territory plus one more at Liman on the Avren side. Kantara-2010 plans to seek support at the ministerial level and, if unsuccessful, to raise the issue with European institutions.
Oakland is implementing a new encampment policy that allows inhabited vehicles to be cited and towed more quickly. In 2024, 58% of the city's unsheltered homeless population was living in vehicles, according to the point-in-time count. New notices have been posted along Kirkham Street near the West Oakland BART station warning of an upcoming RV encampment closure. The city said legal notices are posted at least seven days before a closure, with outreach over two to six weeks. Some RV dwellers report shorter notice; one resident said she was given an hour to leave or face towing.
A joint inspection by the Ibiza Island Council and Santa Eulària municipal police resulted in 17 fines for illegally parked motorhomes. Owners of motorhomes, caravans and campervans on the island face strict rules on parking and overnight stays.
Tønder Municipality in Denmark introduced stricter motorhome parking rules two years ago following numerous complaints, particularly on Rømø and in Møgeltønder. Overnight bans were imposed and official sites such as Oasen on Rømø and Marsk Camp near Skærbæk were expanded. According to Poul Erik Kjær, chairman of the technical committee, complaints about wild parking have ceased, though enforcement remains random. Criticism persists over motorhomes occupying staff parking spaces at the town hall, and a three-year-old overnight ban on Rømø was revoked after objections from the organisation Danmarks Frie Autocampere.
In South Tyrol, a second enforcement operation against illegal camping within weeks recorded 15 violations. The first check in late July resulted in 21 fines. Authorities attribute the decrease to the effectiveness of inspections and awareness efforts. Overnight stays in tents, motorhomes or caravans on public land are permitted only at officially designated campsites and parking areas.
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A joint raid by Ibiza Council inspectors and Santa Eulària police resulted in fines for 17 motorhomes and caravans for missing permits, insurance, and illegal parking.
At an administrative audit on September 14, Dangjin City Council member Seo Young-hoon raised the issue of long-term camper parking, illegal cooking, and conflicts with fishermen at Janggo Port. Port Policy Team leader Kang In-kyu said 38 cases were addressed through guidance last year, but enforcement was limited; fines of up to 500,000 won will become possible after legal amendments. The council member urged cooperation with other departments and special judicial police, and noted problems with waste and lack of local economic contribution.