In unincorporated Polk County, boats, RVs, sport vehicles and utility trailers may be parked on a residential lot, but only ONE may sit in the front yard. Others go in the side or rear yard, at least 5 feet from any side or rear line.
Polk County Land Development Code Section 218 lets residents park unoccupied boats, personal watercraft, sport vehicles (dune buggies, off-road/hunting vehicles), RVs and utility trailers on a residential lot if: only one is in the front yard; the vehicle is operative and currently registered/licensed; the driveway stays functional and the two required parking spaces stay clear; nothing encroaches into the public right-of-way (loading/unloading limited to one hour per 24 hours); and no one lives in the vehicle. RVs may connect to power for maintenance only, not water or sewer. Municipalities like Lakeland or Winter Haven set their own rules inside city limits.
Enforced by Polk County Code Enforcement through the Special Magistrate Ordinance; noncompliance can lead to daily fines until corrected.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Polk County's rv & boat parking rules stack up against other locations.
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