Stearns County, MN Parking Rules: RV & Boat Parking (2026)
Key Facts
- Permanent RVs per parcel
- One, unless otherwise provided
- With a dwelling present
- Permanent RV not allowed
- 30-day trigger
- Becomes principal structure, needs Sec. 4.11 permit
- Homeowner exemption
- Storing your own licensed RV isn't regulated
- Temporary RV
- 30 days or less, registers under Sec. 4.22
Summary
Stearns County restricts how long a recreational camping vehicle can sit on a residential lot. Under Ordinance 439, Section 7.22, only one permanent RV is allowed per parcel, and none at all if the parcel already has a residential dwelling unit; leave one occupied past thirty days and it becomes the principal structure, triggering the Section 4.11 permit.
Recreational Camping Vehicles, Permanent shall meet the structural setback requirements of this Ordinance. Only one (1) Recreational Camping Vehicle, Permanent is allowed per parcel unless otherwise provided for in this Ordinance. If the parcel has a Residential Dwelling Unit, a Recreational Camping Vehicle, Permanent is not allowed. A Recreational Camping Vehicle, Permanent located on a parcel for more than thirty (30) days in any year and occupied at the location at any time is the principal structure and considered a Residential Dwelling Unit. A permit pursuant to Section 4.11 of this Ordinance is required. ... The provisions of this Section do not apply to homeowners who are storing a Recreational Camping Vehicle on their property provided said vehicle is licensed in their name.
Full Breakdown
1 defines a 'Recreational Camping Vehicle, Permanent' as one that does not meet the thirty-day temporary threshold, and sets four operative rules. A). B), so a permanent RV can only serve as its own standalone use, not sit beside a house. C). D). E carves out the ordinary homeowner: these provisions 'do not apply to homeowners who are storing a Recreational Camping Vehicle on their property provided said vehicle is licensed in their name,' so simply parking a licensed RV in a driveway is not regulated the same way. 2).
Violations & Fines
Section 7.22 does not set a fine amount directly. Keeping an occupied permanent RV on a parcel with a dwelling, running a second permanent RV without following Sections 6.49 and 10.2.23, or occupying an RV past thirty days without the Section 4.11 permit all fail Section 7.22.1 and are handled through the Department's standard zoning permit enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I live in an RV on my Stearns County land if I already have a house?
How long can an RV sit occupied on vacant Stearns County land before it needs a permit?
Do I need a permit just to store my RV in my Stearns County driveway?
Can I have two permanent RVs on one Stearns County parcel?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stearns County
How Stearns County compares: Cities with the Strictest Parking Rules·Compare Stearns County to another location·View the Minnesota parking rules overview
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