Spokane Valley, WA Parking Rules: RV & Boat Parking (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- SVMC § 19.65.130(J)
- Front yard limit
- 15 consecutive days, 30 per year
- Guest RV stays
- 30 days/year with temporary use permit
- RV as dwelling
- Banned outside Chapter 19.40 SVMC options
- Boats
- Not covered by this RV rule
- First violation penalty
- $500 (SVMC § 17.100.250)
Summary
Spokane Valley limits how long a recreational vehicle can sit in a residential front yard: SVMC § 19.65.130(J) caps RV parking in the required front yard setback at 15 consecutive days and no more than 30 cumulative days in any rolling 12-month period, and bars using an RV as a dwelling in a residential zone outside Chapter 19.40 SVMC's options.
J. Recreational Vehicles. 1. Recreational vehicles shall not be used as permanent or temporary dwelling units in any residential zone, except as permitted pursuant to Chapter 19.40 SVMC; 2. A recreational vehicle shall not be parked within a required front yard setback for more than 15 consecutive days and not more than 30 days cumulative in any 12 consecutive months; 3. Upon issuance of a temporary use permit to an applicant pursuant to Chapter 19.160 SVMC, guests may park and/or occupy a recreational vehicle while visiting the occupants of a dwelling unit located on the same lot owned or leased by the permit applicant for not more than 30 days in one consecutive 12-month period.
Full Breakdown
130(J) treats recreational vehicles as a residential supplemental use with three distinct rules. 40 SVMC, so simply living in a parked RV isn't allowed on its own. Second, an RV cannot sit within the lot's required front yard setback for more than 15 consecutive days, and the cumulative total across any rolling 12-month period cannot exceed 30 days; once those limits are hit, the RV has to move behind the setback line or off the property. 160 SVMC and is capped at 30 days in a consecutive 12-month period.
The City's Appendix A defines 'recreational vehicle (RV)' as a vehicle built on a single chassis designed as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use, including but not limited to travel trailers, truck campers, camping trailers, and self-propelled motor homes, so the front-yard time limit reaches a travel trailer parked in a driveway the same way it reaches a motor home. 130(J), so this front-yard time limit governs RVs and travel trailers specifically, not watercraft.
Violations & Fines
Leaving an RV in the required front yard setback beyond 15 consecutive days or 30 cumulative days in 12 months, or using one as a dwelling without Chapter 19.40 SVMC authorization, violates SVMC § 19.65.130(J) as a Title 19 zoning violation. The City enforces it through Chapter 17.100 SVMC's notice-and-order process, with a $500 civil penalty for a first violation and $1,000 for a repeat within three years under SVMC § 17.100.250.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can an RV sit in a Spokane Valley driveway?
Does Spokane Valley regulate parking a boat trailer the same as an RV?
Can I let a guest live in an RV on my property while visiting?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Spokane Valley
How Spokane Valley compares: Cities with the Strictest Parking Rules·Compare Spokane Valley to another location·View the Washington parking rules overview
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