Santa Clara County, CA Parking Rules: RV & Boat Parking (2026)
Key Facts
- Front/side yard limit
- 72 hours per month
- Exception distance
- 75+ feet from front line
- Rear yard
- allowed, no 72-hr cap
- Registration
- must be registered to resident
Summary
In unincorporated Santa Clara County, an RV, camper, trailer, or boat can sit in a front or side yard for only 72 hours per calendar month unless it's at least 75 feet from the front property line: rear-yard storage is unrestricted by this cap.
No RV, camper, trailer, boat or similar vehicle may be parked or stored within a front or side yard for a period of more than 72 hours within any one calendar month; however, this provision shall not preclude such RV storage on portions of a front or side yard that are at least 75 feet from the front property line. An RV, camper, trailer, boat or similar vehicle may be stored within a rear yard.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65).
Full Breakdown
County zoning limits how long recreational vehicles, campers, trailers, and boats can occupy a front or side yard: no more than 72 hours within any calendar month, unless the vehicle sits at least 75 feet back from the front property line. Rear-yard storage is allowed without that 72-hour clock, though a vehicle on a corner lot abutting a key lot must still meet a side setback equal to the key lot's front setback. The vehicle must be registered to a resident of the lot, and it can't be used as a dwelling while parked. This is the unincorporated-area rule only. San Jose, Palo Alto, and the other 14 cities set their own RV parking standards.
Violations & Fines
Storing an RV, camper, trailer, or boat in a front or side yard beyond the 72-hour limit is a zoning violation. County zoning enforcement officers can cite it as an infraction, escalating to a misdemeanor (up to $1,000 and one year in county jail) under § 5.80.100.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I park my boat in the driveway of my unincorporated Santa Clara County home?
Can I live in my RV while it's parked at my house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Clara County
How Santa Clara County compares: Cities with the Strictest Parking Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Clara County to another location·View the California parking rules overview
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