A man living in a tent in the British county of Devon must pack up and leave since his makeshift home doesn't have planning approval, council officials say.

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The North Devon Council has informed Ray Spice that the Mongolian-style yurt he shares with his partner, Sarah, and their two cats could only be built legally with planning permission, The Daily Mail said Friday.

A yurt is essentially a glorified tent with lattice-framing, the Mail said. Spice's yurt featured a felt covering and portable wooden lattices.

Spice, 55, said he was told to relocate the home he has enjoyed in Devon for 2 1/2 years due in part to sustainability and pollution concerns.

"Among other things, the council have claimed we are unsustainable because we live more than 600 yards from a shop," the specialist builder told the Mail.

"And they feel we may be polluting the river with our toilet -- but we were visited by environmental health officers and we've got confirmation that we're not."