Fort Smith, AR Parking Rules: RV & Boat Parking (2026)
Key Facts
- No street parking
- RVs, boats, trailers barred
- No front/side setback
- prohibited under Sec. 14-55
- Temporary exemption
- 4 days in setback
- Guest RV stay
- up to 2 weeks/90 days
Summary
Fort Smith bans parking RVs, boats, and utility trailers on residential streets or in front/side-yard setbacks, allowing only rear-yard, carport, or short-term guest parking.
It shall be unlawful to park or leave unattended a recreational and utility vehicle:
(1) On any street or right-of-way classified as residential or as a residential collector by the city master street plan; or
(2) In a front or exterior side yard setback area as defined in chapter 27 on any property zoned residential or utilized for residential purposes.
Any recreational and utility vehicle properly parked pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be maintained in a clean, well-kept state which does not detract from the appearance of the surrounding area. At no time shall a parked or stored recreational and utility vehicle be occupied or used as a dwelling unit.
(b) Exemptions. The following exemptions to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall apply:
(1) A recreational and utility vehicle may be temporarily parked in the identified building setbacks or in the identified street right-of-way for no more than four days.
(2) A recreational and utility vehicle may be parked under a carport or structure approved by the board of zoning adjustment or that exists as a nonconforming structure.
(3) Guests may reside in a recreational and utility vehicle on the host's premises for a period not longer than two weeks in any 90-day period. The vehicle may be parked in the building setback areas during the two weeks.
(c) Variances. In instances where strict enforcement of the requirements of subsections (a) and
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
Fort Smith's residential parking code (ch. 14, art. III, div. 1) defines travel trailers, folding tent trailers, motor homes, truck campers, livestock trailers, boat trailers, and utility trailers as "recreational and utility vehicles" under Sec. 14-55, and bars leaving them unattended on a residential street or in a front or exterior side yard setback. Owners can still park them behind the setback line, under an approved carport, or temporarily: up to four days in the setback, or up to two weeks per 90-day period for a houseguest's RV. The property owners appeals board can grant hardship variances for unusual lots.
Violations & Fines
Fort Smith code enforcement can cite the property owner for each violation; the property owners appeals board hears hardship variance requests, but street-parked or setback-parked RVs and boats get no automatic exemption.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I park my camper in my driveway in Fort Smith?
How long can a visiting relative's RV stay parked at my house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Smith
How Fort Smith compares: Cities with the Strictest Parking Rules·Compare Fort Smith to another location·View the Arkansas parking rules overview
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