Recreational and Commercial Vehicles

The ordinance may apply to your household if you have:

• A recreational vehicle (RV)
• A commercial vehicle
• More than three passenger vehicles

Recreational vehicles (RVs)

Recreational vehicles include travel trailers, campers, motor homes, tent trailers, vans converted to motor homes, boat trailers, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), boats and other watercrafts. The size of the recreational vehicle affects where it may be parked.

Oversized RV

• More than 8 feet high, 22 feet long or 6,500 pounds (empty weight)
• One oversized RV is allowed
• Can’t be parked on the street.
• Can only be parked in the backyard (screening is required).

Midsize RV

• Between 6 and 8 feet high and not more than 22 feet long or 6,500 pounds (empty weight)
• Up to two midsize RVs are allowed.*
• Can’t be parked on the street or on the area of the driveway in front of the house line.**
• Can be parked in the backyard on a paved surface or on the portion of the driveway alongside the house, without screening.

Small RV

• Less than 6 feet high and not more than 22 feet long or 6,500 pounds (empty weight)
• Up to two small RVs are allowed*
• Can’t be parked on the street or on the portion of the driveway in front of the house line.**
• Can be parked in the backyard on a paved surface or on the portion of the driveway alongside the house, without screening.
• Can be parked on the sideyard on a paved surface with screening.

*No more than two non-passenger (RV and commercial) vehicles can be parked outside the garage.

**No access to your backyard? Under certain conditions, small and midsize vehicles can be parked on the front part of your driveway. Call 952.924.2575 for details.

Commercial vehicles

Commercial vehicles include step vans, tow trucks, tank trucks, tractors, buses, cargo trucks, vans or pickups with a carrying capacity of more than one ton, snowplows, trucks with non-standard pickup boxes, dump trucks and trailers loaded with commercial equipment.

The size of your commercial vehicles affects where they can be parked. Off-road construction and earth-moving vehicles aren’t allowed in neighborhoods.

Standard commercial vehicles

• 8 feet high and 22 feet long or less and 6,500 pounds (empty weight).
• Up to two midsize commercial vehicles are allowed.*
• Can’t be on residential streets or on the portion of the driveway in front of the house line.
• Can be parked on a paved surface in the backyard or on the part of the driveway alongside the house. No screening is required.

Oversize commercial vehicles

• More than 8 feet high, 22 feet long or 6,500 pounds (empty weight).
• Can’t be parked in residential areas. Must be parked at another location.
• Can’t be stored in the garage, in the yard, on the driveway or on a residential street.

Stock/racing cars and junk vehicles

Any racing vehicle and any vehicle that isn't street operable must be parked in the garage or at another location. These can't be parked on the yard, driveway or residential street.

Up to three vehicles

You can have up to three vehicles parked outside your garage. If more than three licensed drivers live in your household, up to five vehicles may be parked outside of the garage. However, only one vehicle per licensed driver is allowed. For example, for four licensed drivers in a household, only four vehicles can be parked outside of the garage. Additional passenger vehicles must be parked in the garage. Vehicles can’t be parked on the lawn.

Note: "Vehicles" includes passenger vehicles, trailers, recreational vehicles and commercial vehicles.

Visiting commercial vehicles

Vehicles temporarily at your household for construction, remodeling or contract work are exempt from the ordinance while the work is underway. Any commercial vehicle making service calls or deliveries is also exempt.

Passenger vehicles with logos

The ordinance doesn't apply to cars, minivans or small pickups with a company name or logo on them. These vehicles may be parked on driveways and residential streets.

RVs during loading, unloading and maintenance

Recreational vehicles can be parked on the driveway – not the street – for up to 48 hours for loading, unloading or routine maintenance.

If the allowed recreational or commercial vehicle fits in your garage, it should be stored there. Other options include the following.

Backyard

An RV of any size in a backyard must be parked at least 5 feet away from all side and rear property lines. Only oversize RVs may be parked on a non-paved surface. All other vehicles must be parked on a paved surface and not on the grass.

An oversize RV must be screened from your neighbors' view, as well as the view from the street and, if applicable, any public park. Screening requires both the use of a fence and plants. The fence must be 6 feet high and at least 90% opaque. A wooden board-on-board fence would meet the opaqueness requirement, while a chain link or picket fence wouldn't.

Landscaping is required in addition to the fence. It could include shrubs or trees (deciduous or evergreen) that, when fully grown, will be the height of the vehicle.

Sideyard

Only one small RV can be parked on the sideyard. A hard parking surface is required.

A small RV can be parked on the sideyard if the parking spot is 10 feet away from the next door neighbor's house, the vehicle doesn't extend beyond the front wall of your house, and the side yard is not adjacent to a street (corner lot).

A small RV must be screened by a fence that is 6 feet high and at least 90% opaque. A wooden board-on-board fence would meet the opaqueness requirement, while a chain link or picket fence wouldn't.

Offsite storage

To find offsite storage space, search "recreational vehicle storage" or "household and commercial storage" in a search engine on any internet browser.

Restrictions

Keep these restrictions in mind as you plan where to store your vehicle.

Driveways

Thinking about widening your driveway? Driveways in front yards can't be more than 22 feet wide or take up more than 30% of your front yard. For reference, a 22-foot driveway can hold two cars parked side-by-side. Parked vehicles may not block the public sidewalk at any time.

Numbers count

Only two non-passenger (trailers, recreational or commercial) vehicles can be parked outside a garage. Of these two, only one can be an oversize recreational vehicle.

Owners only

Recreational or commercial vehicles must be owned or leased by the household's occupant. Parts and attachments: Snowplow attachments, car parts or accessories may not be stored outdoors. These must be stored inside a garage or storage shed.

Exceptions

Duplexes

Up to six passenger vehicles – three per address – can be parked at a duplex.

Townhouses, condos, apartments

If you live in a multifamily dwelling, recreational or commercial vehicles must be stored on a concrete or blacktop parking area. Because not all buildings have enough parking, check with your building manager or check your townhouse or condominium bylaws.

Snowplows

Vehicles with an attached snowplow can be parked on the driveway between Nov. 1 and April 30. In most cases, the vehicle must be parked behind the front house line.

Corner lots

The zoning ordinance definition of a "backyard'" versus a "side yard" can affect parking on a corner lot. Call 952.924.2575 before creating parking spaces outside your garage.