Government is finalising new rules for caravans and campervans in the Canaries
The Canary Islands Government is finalising new regulations for camping areas and campervan sites across the archipelago, aiming to bring legal clarity and encourage more facilities of this type on all the islands.
Tourism and Employment Minister Jéssica de León told parliament this week that the regulation responds to “a long-overdue need,” as the activity has often generated unnecessary territorial disputes, legal uncertainty, and missed opportunities for sustainable tourism.
The draft law has already received around 80 submissions, which the department will review before sending the text to the Consultative Council. The government expects the regulations to come into force during the first quarter of 2026.
According to official figures, more than 13,000 people use caravans or campervans in the Canary Islands, generating an estimated €200 million annually. Until now, however, the sector has lacked a proper regulatory framework.
The new rules, developed in consultation with a dozen camping and caravan associations, will set standards for overnight areas (with a maximum stay of 72 hours), campsites, and transit areas, as well as defining plot sizes. Special focus will be placed on rural areas, where existing buildings could host up to 12 pitches.
Minister De León stressed that parking and overnight stays in vehicles will remain permitted unless a local council prohibits them, while camping itself will continue to only be allowed in designated areas.
She also underlined that the regional government is not taking powers away from island cabildos or town halls, but instead offering them a clear framework to manage, plan, and supervise these activities more effectively.
The regulation excludes temporary camps set up for concerts or major events, but it will give councils five years to designate public or private land for provisional use if needed.
Debate in parliament highlighted both the economic benefits and the challenges of this growing sector.
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