Detroit, MI Parking Rules: RV & Boat Parking (2026)
Key Facts
- Trailer length limit
- 8 feet, longer barred citywide
- Storage location
- garage or rear yard only
- R1/R2 boat limit
- one boat per lot
- Lot line setback
- 3 feet, side and rear
- Driveway loading stop
- max 24 hours
Summary
Detroit limits RVs, trailers and boats in residential yards to the garage or rear yard, caps counts, and sets a three-foot setback from side and rear lot lines.
Parking or storage of recreational vehicles or recreational equipment shall be allowed where located in a garage or in the rear yard, provided, that a recreational vehicle may be temporarily parked outside of the rear yard in the driveway for loading/unloading purposes for a period that is not to exceed 24 hours;(4)No recreational vehicle or recreational equipment shall be parked or stored closer than three feet to any side or any rear lot line; and(5)Recreational vehicles are also subject to Section 46-4-19 of this Code. (Code 1984, § 61-14-173; Ord. No. 11-05, § 1(61-14-173), eff. 5-28-2005; Ord. No. 37-17, § 1(61-14-173), eff. 2-6-2018)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
In Detroit's R1 through R6 and residential PD districts, recreational vehicles and equipment must be kept in a garage or the rear yard; a trailer over eight feet long or a semi-trailer can't be parked on any zoning lot at all. In R1 and R2 specifically, only one RV (limited to the rear yard) and only one boat may be kept outdoors per lot. Stored RVs and equipment must sit at least three feet off any side or rear lot line, and a temporary driveway stop for loading or unloading can't exceed 24 hours.
Violations & Fines
Enforced by the Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED) as a zoning violation; noncompliant vehicles are subject to a correction order, and continued violation can bring municipal civil infraction fines under the zoning ordinance's general penalty provisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I park my boat in the driveway in Detroit?
How many RVs can I keep at my Detroit house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Detroit
How Detroit compares: Cities with the Strictest Parking Rules·Compare Detroit to another location·View the Michigan parking rules overview
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RV & Boat Parking in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wayne County handle rv & boat parking.