Toilet, grey water, fresh water and gas — camper basics in Norway

The short answer (status: October 2026): empty the toilet cassette and grey water only at an approved dump station (tømmestasjon, signposted with sign 611). Norwegian law obliges every municipality to provide facilities for this, but the toilets on the National Tourist Routes are not for this. For drinking water, the public health institute says the safest choice is water you bring from home. For gas, Norwegian businesses may only fill cylinders that carry the π mark, and nobody may fill a propane cylinder themselves. No official source names a Norwegian cylinder connection, so ask before you leave. A bit of planning saves money and the holiday.

Camper services at a glance

Where to empty the toilet and grey water

Statens vegvesen asks motorhome drivers to empty toilets and waste bins only at approved dump stations, and points to www.bobilplassen.no (in Norwegian) to find them. The official road sign for such a place is service symbol 611 "Toalettømmeanlegg", which marks a reception facility for toilet waste from caravans, motorhomes and buses.

The duty to provide these places sits with the municipality. The Pollution Control Act (forurensningsloven, § 26) says the municipality shall also provide the necessary facilities for emptying waste water from motorhomes, leisure boats and similar, both inside and outside built-up areas.

The same act sets the general duty behind it all (§ 7): nobody may have, do or start anything that can cause a risk of pollution unless it is lawful or permitted. Emptying a cassette or a grey-water tank into nature, a ditch or a drain is exactly what this rule is about.

Not in the Scenic Route toilets

The National Tourist Routes state on their route pages: "Emptying toilets from motorhomes and caravans is not permitted in our toilets. The facility is not designed for such use." The same pages name the nearest dump stations:

Plan your emptying stops the way you plan fuel stops: the next one may be in the valley you have just left.

Fresh water

There is no official national list of where a camper can fill its fresh-water tank, and we have not found an official source that sets rules for it. For water straight from nature, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) says the safest choice is water brought from home. If you do use natural water, choose running, clear water without smell or taste, stay away from animal droppings and grazing animals, and boil it before you drink. The risk is highest during the spring snowmelt and in rainy periods, especially in autumn.

Gas: what Norwegian law says about cylinders

• Only marked cylinders are filled. A cylinder for LPG must carry the conformity mark π or ε before it is filled. Unmarked cylinders may only be filled if they meet the dangerous-goods rules and were on the Norwegian market before the marking requirement came in.
• No self-service. Filling propane cylinders needs expertise and must be done at facilities intended for it. Self-service is not allowed.
• No damaged or overdue cylinders. It is not allowed to fill a cylinder that is damaged, defective or due for its periodic inspection. All steel cylinders and most composite cylinders on the Norwegian market are inspected every 10 years.
• You can always hand a cylinder back. Businesses that fill or sell LPG cylinders must accept them from consumers free of charge, including cylinders that cannot be filled. They do not have to give you a new one in return.

Cylinder types and adapters: we have not found an official Norwegian source that names a standard cylinder thread, valve or regulator connection, and DSB's cylinder page says nothing about foreign cylinders. Whether a filling business will take your foreign cylinder is therefore unknown to us. Before you leave, ask the manufacturer of your vehicle's gas system or your dealer which adapter your regulator needs for cylinders bought in Norway, and travel with your own cylinders full.

Carrying gas in the vehicle and on ferries

Private individuals may carry dangerous goods packaged for retail sale and meant for their own use without the ADR transport rules applying. DSB's own example is propane cylinders for a gas barbecue. For liquefied gas such as propane, DSB stresses that valves must be closed during transport, the cylinder must stand upright, and the space it stands in should be ventilated, because propane ignites easily; DSB names the interior light as a possible ignition source.

On road ferries, the regulation on dangerous cargo bans dangerous goods on Norwegian ships in general, but the ban does not apply to such private-use goods when they travel in a private person's vehicle on a ro-ro ferry that is part of the Norwegian road network.

Where you can spend the night between dump stations is covered in Can you park a campervan overnight in Norway?, and the high roads with their own facilities on our National Scenic Routes page.

What this article leaves out

Our Norway camper handbook goes further: the service routine for water, waste and gas, what Norwegian law says and does not say about gas installations, electricity and hook-up, and a pre-departure checklist. Where you may sleep with the vehicle is in Where to sleep with a camper in Norway.

FAQ

Can I empty my camper toilet at a rest area?

Only if the rest area has an approved dump station, marked with sign 611. The National Tourist Route toilets do not allow it.

Who provides dump stations in Norway?

The municipality has the legal duty to provide facilities for emptying waste water from motorhomes. Statens vegvesen points to bobilplassen.no to find them.

Can I fill my own gas cylinder in Norway?

Not yourself. Self-service filling of propane cylinders is not allowed, and a filling business may only fill cylinders marked π or ε that are not damaged or overdue for inspection.

Can I take gas cylinders on a Norwegian ferry?

Yes, in a private vehicle on a road ferry, under the private-use exemption. Keep the valves closed.