RV & Boat Parking: Petaluma vs Sonoma

Can I park my RV in my driveway in unincorporated Sonoma County?

Yes, for storage. Personal RVs, motor homes, travel trailers, fifth-wheels, and boats may be stored on a private residential parcel in unincorporated Sonoma County as a customary accessory use to a single-family dwelling, allowed in all residential and rural zones (R1, R2, R3, AR, RR) without a separate permit. The RV must be owned by the resident, may not be occupied as a dwelling (except under the Sec. 26-88-066 caregiver exception or with a post-fire Rebuild permit), and may not be connected to permanent water, sewer, or electrical utilities for habitation. It also cannot encroach into the required front-yard setback (typically 20-30 feet from the front property line depending on zone) under Article 88 of Chapter 26. If you park the RV on the public road in front of your house, California Vehicle Code Sec. 22651(k) requires it to be moved at least every 72 hours. Boats on trailers follow the same rules. If your parcel is in a CC Coastal Zone or a Scenic Resources (SR) combining district, additional siting standards may apply.

Can someone live in an RV on my property while my house is being built or repaired?

Sometimes, with the right permit. Sonoma County's most permissive RV-occupancy provision is Sec. 26-88-066, which allows an ill, convalescent, or otherwise disabled friend or relative of the permanent occupant to live in an RV on a residential parcel while receiving care from the resident. Outside that narrow exception, full-time RV occupancy on residential land is generally not allowed unless the parcel is in a KR/RV combining district under Article 42. However, after the 2017 Tubbs Fire, 2019 Kincade Fire, and 2020 Glass Fire, Permit Sonoma created a Rebuild program (operated from the Resiliency Permit Center at 2550 Ventura Avenue in Santa Rosa) that issues temporary-use permits allowing residents whose primary dwelling was destroyed to live in an RV or travel trailer on the parcel for up to 24 months while rebuilding, with extensions available. The RV must have a verified water supply and a connection to an approved septic system or sewer. Contact Permit Sonoma's Rebuild Resiliency Permit Center to apply.

What if my neighbor leaves an RV or boat parked on the street for weeks?

Report it under California Vehicle Code Sec. 22651(k), which applies on county-maintained roads in unincorporated Sonoma County and prohibits parking a vehicle in the same spot on a public roadway for more than 72 hours. The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office accepts reports of stagnant-parked vehicles; CHP enforces on state highways. Vehicles repeatedly moved a few feet to reset the 72-hour clock are still cited under Sec. 22651(l). If the RV is being lived in on a residential property (not just stored), file a Code Enforcement complaint with Permit Sonoma through SoCo Connect or by calling (707) 565-1992; unpermitted RV occupancy violates Sec. 26-88-066 of the Zoning Code and triggers citations starting at $100 and escalating to $500 per day. If the vehicle appears abandoned (flat tires, expired registration, no driver in months), it may qualify for the County's free Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Program.

Can I park my RV in front of my house in Sonoma?

On the public street, yes, but only for up to 72 consecutive hours per SMC 10.48.040 - after that the vehicle can be cited and towed under CVC 22651(k). On private property, an operable RV may be parked on a paved driveway but the required front-yard setback cannot be used for vehicle storage (SMC 19.40.110).

Can I live in my RV on my Sonoma property?

No. Using an RV as a dwelling unit on a residential lot is not allowed; recreational-vehicle occupancy is restricted to licensed RV parks per the special-use provisions in SMC Chapter 19.50 and the RV definition in SMC 19.92.020.

Does moving the RV a few feet reset the 72-hour clock?

No. Under California Vehicle Code 22651(k), which Sonoma enforces, the 72-hour count is based on continuous parking in the same vicinity - moving the vehicle a short distance on the same block does not restart the clock.