Bristol Township, PA Parking Rules: RV & Boat Parking (2026)

The rule sits in Section 150-2 of the Bristol Township Code, which adds Section 302.8.1 to the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code adopted by Township Council in Section 150-1. The Office of Licenses and Inspections enforces it.

All motor and recreational vehicles stored on a property must be properly registered, inspected and insured, and must be parked on the premises' driveway. The exception is for a single family detached dwelling or two family dwelling, as defined in the Zoning Ordinance, which is permitted to install a second or separate off-street parking area for recreational vehicles. That second area cannot be located within any right-of-way, and if recreational vehicles are parked in the rear yard it must be at least three feet from side and rear property lines. Its surface can be paved or crushed stone and must be large enough to accommodate any part of the recreational vehicle that touches the ground.

For fire safety, a minimum of six feet of separation is required between the home or structure and any recreational vehicle parked directly between two houses. An existing paved driveway can be extended with a gravel or stone addition for storing currently inspected and insured motor vehicles. All motor vehicles and recreational vehicles stored on the property must be in a state of good repair and appearance.

The term recreational vehicle is defined to include motor homes, truck-mounted campers, travel trailers, folding tent campers, motor vehicles adapted for vacation, residential or recreational use, snowmobiles, minibikes, go-karts, boats, boat trailers and utility trailers. A boat on a trailer therefore counts twice over. Finally, vehicles cannot be used for living facilities, for storage, or for a commercial purpose, so a camper cannot serve as a bedroom or a utility trailer as a business yard.