Sutter County regulates RV, boat, and trailer storage on residential lots through the County Zoning Code (Title 1500 of the County Code, adopted 2021 and updated). Recreational vehicles may be stored on the same parcel as a dwelling subject to setback, screening, and use restrictions. Storage in agricultural and residential districts is permitted; commercial-scale storage facilities require zoning approval. Yuba City and Live Oak have separate municipal codes.
Sutter County's Zoning Code (Title 1500, adopted August 10, 2021 with subsequent amendments) and the County Code of Ordinances on Municode are the controlling documents for residential RV, boat, and trailer storage in unincorporated Sutter County. Key provisions: (1) Permitted use — recreational vehicles, boats, and trailers may be parked or stored on the same parcel as an occupied dwelling unit in residential and agricultural zone districts subject to the supplementary use standards of the Zoning Code; (2) Setbacks — stored vehicles and trailers must observe the side and rear setbacks of the underlying zone district (typically 5-10 feet in residential, larger in agricultural); (3) Front yard — front-yard storage is generally restricted in residential districts; agricultural districts have more permissive standards reflecting working-farm needs; (4) Use — stored RVs and trailers may not be used as permanent dwellings or guest housing on the parcel and may not be connected to fixed utilities; (5) Number — typical residential allowance is one RV plus one boat-trailer combination, with greater numbers requiring zoning review (Part 4, Article 19 General Regulations); (6) Commercial RV/boat storage facilities — operating a commercial recreational-vehicle or boat storage business on a parcel requires a Use Permit through Sutter County Planning and Community Services and is generally limited to certain commercial and industrial zones; (7) Incorporated cities — Yuba City and Live Oak are independent municipalities within Sutter County and have their own municipal codes covering RV/boat parking. This page covers unincorporated Sutter County only. State law (Cal. Veh. Code §22651) controls baseline rules for towing vehicles parked more than 72 hours.
Violations are enforced by Sutter County Code Enforcement (Planning and Community Services Department) through administrative notice, abatement order, and civil-citation process. Typical first-offense violations get a notice with a cure period; uncorrected violations result in fines and may be referred to the County Counsel for injunctive action. Commercial-scale storage without a Use Permit is treated as an unpermitted use and is more aggressively enforced.
See how Sutter County's rv & boat parking rules stack up against other locations.
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