Iowa City, IA Parking Rules: RV & Boat Parking (2026)

Iowa City is a Home Rule city of roughly 75,000 in Johnson County, home to the University of Iowa, governed by its City Charter and the Iowa City Code of Ordinances hosted by Municode at library.municode.com/ia/iowa_city. The Iowa City Zoning Code (Title 14) was comprehensively rewritten in 2005 and regulates on-lot storage of recreational vehicles, campers, boats and trailers in residential districts as an accessory use. RV/boat/trailer storage in single-family (RS-5, RS-8, RS-12), multifamily (RM-12, RM-20, RM-44) and mixed-use zones is generally restricted to side or rear yards on a paved surface, with storage in the required front yard typically prohibited. On-street parking of any vehicle - including RVs, campers, boat trailers and utility trailers - is subject to Iowa Code §321.358 (Stopping, standing, or parking prohibited in specified places) and to local restrictions adopted by the Iowa City Council under Iowa Code §321.236 (powers of local authorities). Living in an RV parked on a residential lot is barred by Title 14 and the City's nuisance provisions outside of properly zoned RV or mobile home parks. The Iowa City Neighborhood and Development Services Department handles zoning enforcement; the Iowa City Police Department handles on-street parking enforcement together with the City's Transportation Services Department.