Franklin County, WA Parking Rules: RV & Boat Parking (2026)
Key Facts
- Storage ban
- RVs/boats/trailers on any public road or ROW
- Exception window
- 72 hours per two-week period
- Where allowed
- Right-of-way directly in front of owner's property
- Guest exception
- Only if vehicle too large for owner's driveway
- Penalty class
- Traffic infraction under § 10.12.100
- Governing section
- Franklin County Code § 10.12.050(C)
Summary
In unincorporated Franklin County, boats, motor homes, camp trailers, travel trailers, fifth wheels, pickup campers, snowmobiles, and utility trailers cannot be stored on any public road or right-of-way. Franklin County Code § 10.12.050(C) allows only a 72-hour parking window in front of the owner's property every two weeks for loading and unloading.
C.No boat, motor home, camp trailer, travel trailer, fifth wheel, pickup camper, snowmobile, or utility trailer, as defined in this chapter, shall be stored or maintained on any public road, right-of-way, or other public area; except such items may be parked in public right-of-way in front of an owner's property for a period of seventy-two (72) hours in any given two-week period for loading and unloading purposes. Guests of the owner may temporarily park, in public right-of-way, in front of the owner's property for a period of seventy-two (72) hours in any given two-week period only if the boat, motor home, camp trailer, travel trailer, fifth wheel, pickup camper, snowmobile, or utility trailer, as defined in this chapter, of the guests cannot be accommodated, due to size, on the owner's driveway.
Full Breakdown
050(C) bans storing or maintaining a boat, motor home, camp trailer, travel trailer, fifth wheel, pickup camper, snowmobile, or utility trailer on any public road, right-of-way, or other public area in unincorporated Franklin County. The only exception lets an owner park one of these vehicles in the public right-of-way directly in front of their own property for up to 72 hours in any given two-week period, and only for loading and unloading purposes, not indefinite storage. A guest of the property owner gets the same 72-hour, two-week allowance to park such a vehicle in front of the owner's property, but only if the vehicle cannot be accommodated on the owner's driveway because of its size.
The chapter defines 'motor home' as a vehicular unit, licensed or not, primarily designed as temporary living quarters for recreation, camping, or travel that carries its own motive power, and 'recreational vehicle' more broadly as a travel trailer, motor home, truck camper, or camping trailer that is transient and either self-propelled or towed. 050(B) prohibits parking any unlicensed vehicle on a county road.
Violations & Fines
Any person who violates § 10.12.050, including the 72-hour recreational-vehicle storage limit, is guilty of a traffic infraction under § 10.12.100 and faces a monetary penalty set by RCW 46.63.110. An unauthorized vehicle left in violation of the chapter can be tagged by a law enforcement officer or a county-appointed special commissioned officer and impounded and towed at least 24 hours after tagging under § 10.12.130, unless it poses an immediate hazard, in which case it can be towed right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I park my boat in front of my house on a county road?
Can a guest park their RV on my street long-term?
What happens if I leave my trailer on the county road too long?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Franklin County
How Franklin County compares: Cities with the Strictest Parking Rules·Compare Franklin County to another location·View the Washington parking rules overview
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