varies by area
Guernsey’s mechanic is among the most concrete we’ve seen: motorhome capacity is limited to authorised campsites, and the campsite itself issues your permit in advance — with the ferry operator and the Guernsey Border Agency able to ask for it. On tents, the Tourist Law empowers the States to regulate or prohibit camping, but we located no current general Ordinance.
Checked July 2026
This is not legal advice: it's what the official sources say, checked by hand, plus what I lived myself. Verify before you bet the fine on it.
Van and motorhome
Guernsey: the campsite issues the permit
An unusual and very concrete mechanic: motorhome capacity is limited to the authorised campsites the visitor authority identifies, and the motorhome permit must be obtained from the campsite in advance and be available for inspection by the ferry operator and the Guernsey Border Agency.
Forest and ordinary ground
The tent — Guernsey
The Tourist Law empowers the States to make Ordinances regulating or prohibiting camping, but the enabling section isn't itself a general rule — and in this light pass we located no current general Ordinance.
- The officially hosted consolidation warns it is non-authoritative and has no legal effect. We use it to identify the enabling power, not as proof of current law.
Sources
Tourist Law, 1948 — consolidated text, section 16 — Guernsey Legal Resources
Checked July 2026
Bivouac — Guernsey
No first-party text we opened classifies sleeping outside without a tent. Section 3 concerns accommodation for reward and section 16 is enabling; neither safely decides a private bivouac.
Sources
Tourist Law, 1948 — consolidated text, sections 3 and 16 — Guernsey Legal Resources
Checked July 2026
Before you go
Sleeping for free was half the budget
€3.16 per person, per day. The trip's full accounts — and the playbook to do it yourself — are in the budget dossier.