Appleton, WI Parking Rules: RV & Boat Parking (2026)

Sec. 23-43(e), "Use and location restrictions for vehicles," governs outdoor RV, trailer and boat parking on Appleton residential lots. Subsection (2)c permits outdoor parking of not more than one trailer or recreational vehicle at a time, but bars three specific uses: it cannot be used for business, living, sleeping or housekeeping purposes; it cannot be permanently connected to sewer, water or electric lines; and it cannot store goods, materials or equipment beyond what is normally essential for immediate use in that vehicle. A commercial or service vehicle rated Class A, B or C (excluding semitrailers) is capped separately at one enclosed and one outdoor unit.

Subsection (3) adds yard-by-yard limits. Parked vehicles of any kind can never extend past the front lot line into the public right-of-way, sidewalk, terrace or driveway apron. Within the front yard, every wheel of a parked vehicle must sit on the driveway surface itself, parking pads are barred outright in the front yard, and boats or boat trailers longer than 26 feet cannot be parked outdoors there at all. That 26-foot boat/trailer ban carries through to the side yard and rear yard as well, where vehicle wheels must likewise stay on the driveway surface or an approved parking pad. Together the rules mean a large boat or oversized trailer has no outdoor residential parking option in Appleton once it exceeds 26 feet, regardless of yard.