Santa Barbara County, CA Parking Rules: RV & Boat Parking (2026)

Santa Barbara County does not publish a stand-alone recreational-vehicle or boat parking section in its Motor Vehicles and Traffic code (Chapter 23). On a public county road, an RV, camper, boat, or trailer is treated like any other vehicle: it cannot remain parked more than 72 consecutive hours (Chapter 23, Article III), after which it may be removed under California Vehicle Code Section 22651(k). California Vehicle Code Section 22507 lets the County, by ordinance or resolution, restrict parking of vehicles six feet or more in height within 100 feet of an intersection, but only where signs or markings give adequate notice. A detached trailer, fifth wheel, or stored boat left in a County off-street parking facility is separately prohibited as storage under County Ordinance 5163 (Section 12A-23(e)) unless authorized by the Director of General Services. Long-term storage of an RV or boat on a private residential lot is a land-use matter handled through the County's Land Use and Development Code and Coastal Zoning Ordinance rather than the traffic code, so screening, setback, and surfacing rules depend on the property's zone district. Because no County RV-specific time limit or fine is codified for streets, residents should treat the 72-hour limit, posted large-vehicle signs, and zoning standards as the operative rules and confirm placement with Planning & Development.