Lexington, KY Parking Rules: RV & Boat Parking (2026)

Section 18-129 of the Traffic Code's residential-parking division draws a hard line around yards. It is unlawful for any person to park a vehicle within the front yard, side yard, or back yard of any residential structure except upon an approved residential driveway as defined in Article V of Chapter 17, and the duty runs both ways: the code separately makes it unlawful for a property owner, possessor, manager, or anyone controlling the premises to allow such yard parking, so a homeowner can be cited even if the parked vehicle belongs to a guest.

That reaches boats, trailers, and recreational vehicles just as much as cars and trucks, since the section defines no exemption by vehicle type. The same section addresses recreational vehicles specifically through its size limit and permit process. Because an RV, camper, or boat trailer commonly exceeds the section's 7-foot width, 20-foot length, or 7½-foot height thresholds, it cannot sit on a residential street for more than two hours without special authorization. The fix is a visitor's permit obtainable from the urban county government office the mayor designates: once affixed to the driver's side of the front windshield, it lets an out-of-county visitor's recreational vehicle park on a residence-district street for a specified 24-hour period despite exceeding the size limits.

The code also credits up to 24 hours of 'loading or unloading' time to a recreational vehicle being leveled to prep its heating or cooling system for use, recognizing that campers need setup time beyond a quick unload. Citation officers designated under Section 14-10, along with safety, parking, and peace officers, are authorized to issue citations for violations of the whole section.