New Britain, CT Parking Rules: RV & Boat Parking (2026)
Key Facts
- Size trigger
- Over 8 feet tall or 24 feet long, § 240-50-35
- Front yard
- Prohibited outright in residential, RO, and OP zones
- Rear yard setback
- At least 5 feet from any property line
- Ownership rule
- Must be owned by the property owner
- Enforcing officer
- Director of Licenses, Permits and Inspections
- Penalty
- Up to $150 per day, Code § 1-15
Summary
New Britain keeps large recreational vehicles out of view from the street. Section 240-50-35 of the Zoning Ordinance bars any motorhome, camper, trailer, or similar vehicle over eight feet tall or 24 feet long from a front yard in residential, RO, or OP districts, and it must stay at least five feet from a neighboring property line if parked in back.
240-50 - Private Garages or Off-Street Parking Areas in Residence and OP Districts—Supplemental Regulations. ... No motorhome, camper, trailer or other similar personal use vehicle that exceeds eight (8) feet in height or 24 feet in length may be parked in a front yard area in any residential, RO or OP zoning district. Such motorhome, camper, trailer or other similar vehicle may be parked within a rear yard area on a private residential property, provided that it is not parked within 5 feet of any neighboring property line. No motorhome, camper, trailer or other such vehicle that is not owned by the property owner may be kept on any residential, RO or OP zoned property.
Full Breakdown
Section 240-50-35, approved August 29, 2006 (Item #29091-2), sits inside the Zoning Ordinance's supplemental parking rules for residential and OP districts. It applies to any motorhome, camper, trailer, or other similar personal-use vehicle that exceeds eight feet in height or twenty-four feet in length: that vehicle cannot be parked in a front yard area in any residential, RO, or OP zoning district. It may be parked in a rear yard on private residential property, but only if it stays at least five feet from every neighboring property line.
The section adds a separate ownership test that has nothing to do with size: no motorhome, camper, trailer, or similar vehicle that is not owned by the property owner may be kept on any residential, RO, or OP zoned property at all, so a borrowed or a friend's RV cannot be stored there even if it fits the height and length limits. These rules sit alongside the general residential parking standards in Section 240-50, including Section 240-50-30's cap of one commercial vehicle per lot, not exceeding 10,000 pounds, thirty feet in length, or eight feet in height, and Section 240-50-40's front-yard driveway restriction.
The Director of Licenses, Permits and Inspections enforces the Zoning Ordinance under Section 280-30-10 and may inspect a property at any reasonable hour under Section 280-40-10 to confirm an oversized vehicle is not sitting in the front yard or too close to a property line.
Violations & Fines
Parking an oversized motorhome, camper, or trailer in a front yard, within five feet of a neighboring line, or keeping one that is not owned by the property owner violates Section 240-50-35 and Section 280-130 of the Zoning Ordinance. The Director of Licenses, Permits and Inspections can order the vehicle relocated or removed; continued violation carries the Code of Ordinances Section 1-15 fine of up to $150.00 per day, each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I park my RV in my New Britain front yard?
How close to my neighbor's property line can I park a trailer in back?
Can I store a friend's camper on my New Britain property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Britain
How New Britain compares: Cities with the Strictest Parking Rules·Compare New Britain to another location·View the Connecticut parking rules overview
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