Service and rest areas equipped for motorhomes

Itinerant tourism is supported by areas suitable for stopping and parking motor caravans and are divided into

• service areas for motor caravans or"camper service" equipped with drinking water dispensers, containers for separate waste collection, lighting systems, sanitary installations for the discharge of black and grey water. Neither parking nor camping is permitted in these areas, but only stopping for the discharge of waste water and the filling of drinking water.

• parking areas equipped for motor caravans with at least the same services as the camper service areas with the additional provision of devices for temporary connection to the electricity mains, certified fire-fighting equipment and technological systems that comply with the specific sector regulations. In these areas only parking is permitted, similarly to parking in a car park, for a period not exceeding 48 hours. Several stops are permitted as long as at least 24 hours elapse between one stop and the next. In equipped parking areas, it is forbidden to open awnings, leave doors and windows open, use levelling systems on the vehicle, set up stands, use tables and chairs outside the motor home.

Compliance with the provisions of the law and the regulations and the duration of the parking period are checked by means of the presence of an access system equipped with a bar, gate or similar and by constant monitoring with suitable video surveillance systems. The supervisory bodies shall carry out periodic checks on compliance with the above.

In camper van parks, parking for more than 48 hours constitutes a violation of the camping ban and is classified as "unauthorised camping" on the part of the tourist and as "camping in the absence of a certified start of activity report" on the part of the manager of the camper van park.

The general regulatory plans of the municipalities identify the urban areas in which such interventions are allowed.

The provincial town planning regulations provide for the use of the town planning derogation only in the case of the construction of parking areas equipped for motorhomes set up in the immediate vicinity of an open-air accommodation facility as part of a redevelopment project of an existing accommodation facility.

In the event that the areas are built on publicly owned land, the public bodies in charge may regulate in the deed of assignment of the availability, also the modalities for determining the rates to be applied by the assignee. For land owned by the Province this is an obligation.

Withregard tothe prohibition of camping, the compulsory 'parking' by motor homes outside of open-air accommodation facilities (campsites) and equipped rest areas (existing and authorised), the provincial law regulates the cases in which this violation occurs, which occurs when the parking of motor homes on public roads and parking areas is carried out in violation of the provisions of the Highway Code (Article 185 - Circulation and parking of motor homes).

The parking of motor caravans is considered an unauthorised camping activity in the presence of even one of the following conditions

• the vehicle is not connected to the ground solely by its wheels (i.e. levelling wedges, stabilising feet or other equipment aimed at levelling the vehicle are not permitted)

• the vehicle emits outflows, with the exception of those from the mechanical engine

• the vehicle occupies the roadway to an extent that exceeds the vehicle's own dimensions (opening the doors of a vehicle and getting out of it is not camping, while leaving the doors and windows of a motor vehicle open, constituting a danger or hindrance to road users, does not constitute camping but contravenes Article 157 of the Highway Code; extending the awning of a motor caravan while parked does constitute camping).

Private entities or municipalities

The building permit for the construction of equipped rest areas must be applied for from the competent municipality after ascertaining possession of the required equipment.

The management of parking areas equipped for motor caravans, by private subjects (which is not an additional activity to another economic activity carried out prevalently by the same manager) is subject to compliance with the requirements and to the presentation of the SCIA - segnalazione certificata di inizio attività - to the territorially competent Municipality.

On the occasion of events of major tourist interest, municipalities may establish exceptions to this limit for a further maximum period of 72 hours.

Municipalities may also allow parking to continue for up to a maximum of 360 hours in equipped rest areas located in the immediate vicinity of health and hospital facilities, including spas, taking into account the availability of open-air accommodation facilities on the territory.