Bradenton, FL Parking Rules: RV & Boat Parking (2026)

The rule sits in § 5.1.1 of the Land Use Regulations, which lists the accessory uses allowed with a residence: those activities ordinarily conducted in a house or its yard. Section 5.1 applies the schedule to one- and two-family houses, multi-family dwellings and group care facilities. The first row of Schedule 5.1.1 allows garaging and parking of vehicles, trailers, recreational and noncommercial vehicles, and boats, subject to one restriction: recreational vehicles, boats, or trailers shall not be parked in the front yard except for loading, unloading, and cleaning. The same row adds that unregistered or inoperable vehicles or trailers shall not be stored at residential properties. The schedule row contains no separate driveway exception.

The Land Use Regulations define the primary front yard as the portion of a yard between the front lot line and a line drawn along the front line of the principal building, extending from side lot line to side lot line. A recreational vehicle is defined as a vehicular type portable structure without a permanent foundation that can be towed, hauled, or driven and is primarily designed as a temporary living accommodation for recreational, camping, and travel use, including travel trailers, truck campers, camping trailers, and self-propelled motor homes.

The commercial vehicle definition carves these out: recreational vehicles, boats and trailers shall not be considered commercial vehicles. Schedule 5.1.1 has its own row for commercial vehicles, allowing a maximum of one commercial vehicle on a parcel containing a residential dwelling unit, so the RV rule and the commercial vehicle rule are separate tests.

Vacation rental guests get the same rule in writing. Code § 22-62 says recreational vehicles, boats and trailers may not be parked within the front yard except for temporary loading, unloading and cleaning, and § 22-61(b)(6) requires a statement of that rule to be posted inside every registered vacation rental.

A boat or trailer that is wrecked, junked, partially dismantled or abandoned falls under Article III of Chapter 38 instead. Section 38-62 makes it unlawful to keep one on private property, and § 38-64 gives ten days after notice to correct before removal procedures begin.