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San Luis Obispo County, CA Parking Rules: RV & Boat Parking (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
§ 22.30.040(E)
Residential/Commercial limit
1 outdoor RV, trailer, boat or plane
Ag/Rural Lands/Res. Rural limit
Up to 10 RVs, residents' own property
Front setback
Banned except 1 vehicle in driveway
Living use
Prohibited while stored on a residential lot

Summary

San Luis Obispo County Code Sec. 22.30.040(E) allows one outdoor RV, trailer, boat or plane per site in Residential, Office, Commercial, Recreation and Industrial categories, and up to 10 on Agriculture, Rural Lands or Residential Rural parcels owned by the same residents. Front-setback storage is banned except for one vehicle in the driveway.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of San Luis Obispo County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

E.Recreational vehicles and RV equipment. The accessory storage of recreational vehicles (RV's) or dependent trailers, RV equipment (camper shells, etc.) airplanes, boats, or parts of such vehicles is subject to the following standards.1.Number of vehicles allowed.a.Residential, Office, Commercial, Recreation and Industrial categories. One self-propelled highway vehicle (e.g. a motorhome or camper) or one trailer or other dependent vehicle may be stored outdoors on a site. There is no limitation on the number of RVs, RV equipment or other vehicles listed in this Subsection when stored within a closed building.b.Agriculture, Rural Lands and Residential Rural categories. No more than 10 RV's may be stored when such vehicles are the personal property of residents of the site.2.Location of storage. Recreational vehicles are not to be stored in the required front setback area, except for one self-propelled highway vehicle in the driveway.

Full Breakdown

Land Use Ordinance Sec. 040(E) sets the accessory storage standards for recreational vehicles, dependent trailers, RV equipment such as camper shells, airplanes, boats and their parts. In the Residential, Office, Commercial, Recreation and Industrial land use categories, a site may keep only one self-propelled highway vehicle, such as a motorhome or camper, or one trailer or other dependent vehicle, stored outdoors; there is no cap at all when the equipment sits inside a closed building. In the Agriculture, Rural Lands and Residential Rural categories, up to 10 RVs may be stored outdoors if they belong personally to residents of the site.

Wherever storage is allowed, the vehicle cannot sit in the required front setback area, with one exception: a single self-propelled highway vehicle may be parked in the driveway. The vehicles may be used only for the personal purposes of the property owner or residents, never for living, sleeping or housekeeping while stored on a residential lot. Planned developments, mobile home parks and multi-family projects may add a shared RV storage area through project approval, capped at one space per residential unit and closed to non-residents of the project. Vehicles parked on public streets fall instead under Sec. 010 of the County Code.

Violations & Fines

Exceeding the one-vehicle outdoor limit in Residential, Office, Commercial, Recreation or Industrial categories, storing an RV in the required front setback outside the driveway exception, or using a stored RV for living or sleeping quarters on a residential lot is a zoning violation that County Planning and Building enforces under Title 22, with correction notices and civil penalties for uncorrected violations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many RVs can I keep on my residential lot in unincorporated SLO County?
One, if stored outdoors, under Section 22.30.040(E)(1)(a). There is no limit on the number of RVs or equipment kept entirely inside a closed building, and rural parcels in the Agriculture, Rural Lands or Residential Rural categories may keep up to 10 if they belong to residents of the site.
Can I park my boat trailer in my front yard?
No, not in the required front setback area. Section 22.30.040(E)(2) bans RV and equipment storage in the front setback, with one narrow exception for a single self-propelled highway vehicle parked in the driveway itself.
Can someone live in a stored RV on their property?
No. Section 22.30.040(E)(3) limits stored recreational vehicles to the personal use of the owner or residents of the site and expressly prohibits using them for living, sleeping or housekeeping purposes while stored on a residential lot or any unapproved location.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in San Luis Obispo County

All San Luis Obispo County rules

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