Dearborn Heights, MI Parking Rules: RV & Boat Parking (2026)

Sec. 32-806 governs every recreational vehicle and its attached apparatus, defined broadly to include motor homes, travel trailers, boats, personal watercraft, and snowmobiles, wherever they sit on public or private, residential, commercial, or RMA-zoned property in Dearborn Heights. Outside of an enclosed building, a unit may only be stored in the rear yard, set back at least six feet from an occupied house on its own lot and at least eight feet from an occupied house next door, and at least eight feet from any public sidewalk (seven feet from the front lot line where there is no sidewalk).

Units heavier than 2,000 pounds must sit on a cement pad; lighter units may instead use blacktop or patio block built to the same pad dimensions set in Sec. 32-805. Only one recreational vehicle or attached apparatus, such as a boat on its trailer counted as a single unit, may occupy an established driveway at any one time, and it must belong to an occupant of that residence. Stored units cannot be hooked up to electricity, gas, water, or sewer except a temporary charging connection, and none may ever be used as a residence while parked.

For short trips to the driveway or curb, owners get a 48-hour window on a public street or driveway strictly for loading, unloading, trip preparation, or routine maintenance before the unit must return to compliant storage, and anyone whose unit blocks emergency-vehicle access is separately liable for a civil infraction.