Bothell, WA Parking Rules: RV & Boat Parking (2026)

Bothell Municipal Code § 10.30.050, "Parking of trailers prohibited," is a street rule. Subsection A bars parking a trailer in any alley or on any city street or way open to the public unless it is in an off-street parking facility or as otherwise provided in the section. Subsection B defines "trailer" to include a boat trailer, camping trailer, house trailer, utility trailer or any other vehicle or conveyance designed to be connected to and drawn by a motor vehicle or dray animal. A self-propelled motorhome is not designed to be drawn, so it falls under the ordinary parking sections in Chapter 10.30 instead.

Subsection C lets the traffic engineer, who is the public works director under § 10.10.050, designate by proper signs parking places next to public parks, recreational areas and boat launching sites where recreational trailers can be parked. Subsection D extends the city's impound authority to any trailer parked in violation. A violation of Chapter 10.30 carries the $40.00 penalty in § 10.60.027, and each day or part of a day is a separate offense.

Private property is handled by a different chapter, and only for neglected vehicles. Section 8.23.010(G) defines a "nuisance vehicle" to include a boat, trailer or recreational vehicle that is extensively damaged, apparently inoperable, or worth only its scrap value, and that is not validly licensed or registered in Washington. Under § 8.23.020 such a vehicle on private property is a criminal violation and a public nuisance, even where the property owner gave permission, unless it is fully enclosed in a building where it is not visible from the street or other property. Enforcement runs through a code compliance officer and the hearing examiner. The civil monetary penalty under § 8.23.050 is not more than $500.00 per violation, or $1,000 for a repeat violator, with each day a separate violation. A repeat violator is someone with a notice of violation for the same property within five calendar years (§ 8.23.060). The criminal penalty in § 8.23.090 is a $250.00 fine plus costs.

This page covers street trailer parking and nuisance vehicles. It does not address zoning rules for storing a registered, operable RV or boat in a yard.