RV Vacation

To ensure that you and your neighbors can spend the night safely at the campsite, all guests must comply with the regulations issued by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (Myndigheten för samhällsskydd och beredskap, or MSB for short). Among other things, these regulations require a minimum safety distance of four meters between vehicles and three meters between tents.

In Sweden, you may park your RV for 24 hours at a time during the week and also spend the night in it. On Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, you may stay until the next business day.

All wheels must be within the marked area. Additional regulations are often listed on a supplementary sign below the parking sign, such as a parking ban on certain days of the week. Also, pay attention to the signage at the parking spaces: Some are reserved for regular cars and are not intended for RVs. Setting up chairs, awnings, grills, etc., in a parking space is generally not permitted.

Local regulations apply to some parking areas in nature reserves. Driving and parking off the roads is generally prohibited.

Here you'll learn how and where to dispose of your trash, empty your toilet and wastewater, and refill your fresh water supply. The most important terms are also explained.

Graywater: Wastewater from bathing, washing, and dishwashing must be disposed of exclusively at the designated, official disposal sites; never pour it down a drain or into the environment.

Toilets with a fixed tank or cassette: In some countries, the term “black water” (or “svartvatten” in Swedish) refers to wastewater from the toilet, including everything that comes from the human stomach. There are two solutions for this—cassettes and fixed tanks—and a suitable disposal method for each.

If you have a cassette toilet , remove the cassette and empty it at a designated disposal site.

If you have installed a fixed tank similar to a graywater tank that is emptied via a hose, dispose of the contents at a designated disposal site. Where there is a panel with a graywater drain, the wastewater from the toilet can also be emptied there.

Fresh Water: There are separate hoses for fresh water and rinse water. When operating the machine, make sure that the fresh water hose, as well as the funnel or cap, do not come into contact with the floor or contaminated objects.

Waste: During the peak season (late June through mid-August), Trelleborg and the south coast see many vacationers and campers, which places a greater strain on waste management. By sorting your trash and not throwing anything into bins that are already full, you help keep the environment clean. No trash should end up in nature, where it could harm plants and animals.

It is prohibited to drive motorized vehicles on natural terrain—that is, on virtually all areas off the road. This prohibition applies even in the absence of corresponding prohibition signs. The law is intended to protect vegetation, animals, and nature from harmful effects.

Private Road (Private Road)

The owner of a private road decides whether or not to allow motorized vehicles on it. For example, the owner may also prohibit certain types of motor vehicles. You may park your vehicle directly next to the road, provided that the surface is not damaged and the owner can continue to carry out activities on the property without hindrance. Furthermore, traffic on the road must not be blocked or endangered.

The same parking rules apply on private roads as on other streets. If a property owner wishes to establish different parking rules, they may do so through local traffic regulations. According to the Swedish Act on Fines for Illegal Parking (Act (1984:318) on Control Fees for Illegal Parking), a property owner may permit or prohibit parking. Appropriate signs provide information about the applicable conditions.

For more information, please visit the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket): www.naturvardsverket.se

Whether it’s a beach, a meadow, a field, or other wild spots: It seems tempting to drive off-road and find a secluded spot somewhere in nature to spend the night. However, contrary to some rumors, this is not permitted in Sweden—neither in nature reserves nor in the rest of the countryside. This off-road driving ban is stipulated in the Off-Road Driving Act (Terrängkörningslag (1975:1313)). Especially along the coast, the natural environment is often fragile and easily damaged. That’s why it’s important to park only in areas designated as parking lots. Always make sure you park only where there are official parking signs.

The Right of Public Access (Allemansrätten)

There are no regulations regarding how long a motor vehicle may be parked alongside a road that is not off-road terrain. For tents, the duration is limited to 24 hours. A motorhome or travel trailer takes up more space than a tent and may be perceived as more of a nuisance. Under the Right of Public Access, the area surrounding a residential building is designated as a private property zone (hemfridszon), which should be respected. Before setting up your motorhome or travel trailer near a residential building, always ask the property owner for permission—even if it’s just for one night.

The Off-Road Driving Act (1975:1313) also applies to camping in nature. It is prohibited to drive a motorhome off-road.

https://www.naturvardsverket.se/amnesomraden/friluftsliv/motortrafik-i-naturen/husvagn-och-husbil-i-naturen/

In Trelleborg, nature is close by and easily accessible. As is the case everywhere, there are particularly sensitive areas in the region, and everyone should do their part to protect them. In the nature reserves, you’ll find information about local conditions and regulations designed to protect each specific area. Any local regulations—such as those regarding making fires, camping, and spending the night—take precedence over the Right of Public Access and restrict it.

Do not disturb or cause any damage

The freedom granted to us by the right of public access also comes with a certain responsibility: Anyone who enjoys free access to nature must show consideration not only for the flora and fauna, but also for the people they encounter. This means, for example, that dogs must be kept on a leash, that cyclists and horseback riders must ride with foresight, that pasture gates must be closed after passing through, and that the private property of every residence must be respected.

Making a fire requires knowledge

In some nature reserves, making fires is prohibited. Be sure to check the current regulations before your visit. You must bring your own firewood or charcoal for campfires. In nature reserves, dry branches or driftwood may not be burned because they serve as habitats for insects, mosses, and lichens. You can find out whether and where fire bans are currently in effect on the website of the Skåne County Administrative Board (Länsstyrelsen i Skåne län): https://www.lansstyrelsen.se/skane.html

Roof Tents

Sleeping on the roof of a car is a growing trend, just like “van life” and RV tourism in general. Anyone using a rooftop tent must follow the same rules as those for RVs. This means that the Off-Road Driving Act (1975:1313) applies, as does the Right of Public Access, with respect for private property. Please also be aware of any local restrictions.

Acting in an Environmentally Friendly Manner

Apply your everyday environmental awareness to your vacation as well: save water, sort your trash, turn off the lights, buy seasonal foods—and leave nothing behind in nature but your footprints. Always leave a place just as you found it—or better.

Exploration tours on foot or by bike

Leave your RV parked during the day and explore the area on foot or by bike. This not only helps the environment, but also allows you to take in the sights more fully. The sparkling Baltic Sea and the beaches of the south coast are waiting for you!

Collecting trash is trendy

First plogging, now plalking: This trend, which combines outdoor exercise with picking up (in Swedish, “plocka”) trash, comes from Sweden. Make it a habit to keep an eye out for stray trash while hiking. Every plastic bag and every can that is found and properly disposed of does the environment and its inhabitants a huge favor.

Shopping Locally and Seasonally

Experience the flavors of Skåne with the region’s aromatic products. It’s no wonder this fertile region is known as Sweden’s breadbasket. When you buy locally produced meat, vegetables, bread, and juices on the south coast, for example, you’re also supporting the local agricultural industry.

https://visittrelleborg.se/mat-dryck/

Rules for Dog Owners

To protect wild mammals and birds, dogs should be kept on a leash when out in nature. In the spring and summer, when wild animals are raising their young, keeping dogs on a leash is especially important. People you encounter along the way will also feel safer if dog owners keep their pets under control.

Is it okay to relieve yourself in nature?

No, that is prohibited. Wastewater from the toilet must not be discharged into the environment, a sewer, or a street drain.

Is it okay to pour graywater down the toilet?

No. Graywater must not be poured into the sink at a rest stop.

Is it permitted to discharge graywater at rest stops that allow you to empty the cassette into the sink?

Is it possible to empty gray water at rest stops that offer cassette emptying at a sink?

No. Graywater must not be poured into the sink at a rest stop.

Is it allowed to empty wastewater from a RV toilet into the toilets in nature reserves?

No, because in nature reserves, some restrooms have biological treatment systems that would be disrupted by the chemicals from the tank or cassette.

How long can a motorhome or travel trailer stay at a rest stop?

Rest areas are intended for short stops and breaks. At signposted rest areas and parking lots, you may park for a maximum of 24 consecutive hours, unless otherwise indicated. For more information, visit the website of the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket).

What is the minimum distance that vehicles and tents must maintain on a campsite or at a campground?

For guests at campsites and RV parks, the regulations of the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (Myndigheten för samhällsskydd och beredskap, or MSB for short) apply. The minimum required safety distance between RVs, trailers, and tents is four meters.

Is it allowed to park and spend the night in a motorhome in parking lots designated for passenger cars?

In Sweden, you may park your RV in a parking space designated for passenger cars, as long as all four wheels fit within the marked area and your RV is classified as a Class M vehicle (the vast majority of RVs fall into this class). You may park there for up to 24 consecutive hours at a time and also spend the night, unless otherwise indicated.

Is it allowed to set up an awning and place chairs or a grill in parking lots for passenger cars?

No, that is not allowed. Parking for your vehicle is limited to the marked area, and you may not use the rest of the parking lot.

What are the rules for roof tents and vans?

The same rules apply to cars with roof tents as to motorhomes. The same applies to vans classified as Class M vehicles. This means: Follow the law governing off-road driving (Off-Road Driving Act (1975:1313)) as well as the Right of Public Access; be mindful of local regulations; and find out whether and where a fire ban is currently in effect.