Albany, NY Parking Rules: RV & Boat Parking (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing rule
- Boats/RVs/trailers stored only in rear yard
- Citation
- § 375-405(5)(a)(iii), City USDO
- Street trailers
- Must stay hitched to a vehicle
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine or 15 days jail
- Applies to
- All zoning districts citywide
Summary
Albany's zoning code limits boats, boat trailers, utility trailers, campers and RVs to rear-yard storage only: front and side yards, and areas forward of the building, are off-limits citywide.
Boats, boat trailers, trailers, campers, and recreational vehicles shall only be stored in a rear yard.
(b) Parking location.
(i) In the R-M, R-V, MU-NE, MU-NC, MU-I, MU-CU, MU-DT, and I-1 Districts, off-street parking and vehicle maneuvering areas shall be provided behind the front wall plane of new and redeveloped buildings, or shall be located within the principal building or within a garage structure, to the maximum degree practicable.
(ii) In the MU-FW, MU-FC, MU-FS, and MU-FM Districts, off-street parking facilities shall be located to the rear of the primary building, within the principal building, or within a garage structure.
(iii) On lots in the nonresidential zoning districts that are adjacent to a residential zoning district, parking spaces shall not be located within 10 feet of the front lot line.
(iv) Parking spaces for any single- or two-unit dwelling shall not be provided in the front setback area or any area forward of the front wall plane of the structure unless they are located on a paved area that does not exceed 35% of the lot width. The maximum percentage of lot width used for parking may be increased to 50% if at least the additional 15% of lot width used for parking is surfaced with pervious pavers acceptable to the City, rather than with an impervious surface.
(v) Parking of any motor vehicle on dirt, grass, or any surface other than paving material or pervious pavers acceptable to the City is not permitted.
(c)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4873446; v61 updated 2026-03-18; through 03-18-2026).
Full Breakdown
The Unified Sustainable Development Ordinance's parking-layout-and-design standards state that 'Boats, boat trailers, trailers, campers, and recreational vehicles shall only be stored in a rear yard' (§ 375-405(5)(a)(iii)): a front-yard RV, a driveway-side boat, or a camper next to the house all violate the rule regardless of zoning district. On the street, § 359-22H separately bans parking any trailer, including a boat trailer, unless it stays hitched to a towing vehicle. Violating the USDO parking standard is punishable under § 375-507(6)(d) by a fine up to $1,000 or 15 days in jail, with each day counted as a separate offense.
Violations & Fines
Storing a boat, RV, camper, or trailer outside the rear yard, or leaving an unhitched trailer parked on a City street, draws a USDO notice of violation and fines up to $1,000 per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I park my RV in my Albany driveway?
Can I park a boat trailer on the street in Albany?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Albany
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