St. Louis County, MN Parking Rules: RV & Boat Parking (2026)
Key Facts
- RVs allowed per parcel without a permit
- One
- Vehicle license
- Must be current
- Setback
- Same as principal structure in that zone
- Water-access-only parcels
- Land use permit required
- Improperly created parcels
- RVs not allowed at all
Summary
In unincorporated St. Louis County, a recreational vehicle or camper can sit on a residential parcel without a permit only if it is the sole RV on the lot, carries a current motor vehicle license and meets the zone district's principal structure setback. Miss any of those, and a land use permit is required.
Section 6.3 Recreational Vehicles Administrative Standards “V”
A. No Permit Required: Recreational vehicles and other camping are allowed on parcels without a permit provided the following standards are met: 1. There shall be no more than one recreational vehicle per parcel, per zone district requirements for principal uses. 2. The recreational vehicle shall have a current motor vehicle license. 3. All recreational vehicles shall meet the principal structure setback requirements of the zone district in which they are located. 4. Vegetative removal and shoreland alteration standards shall be followed. 5. St. Louis County sewage treatment standards shall be followed. B. ... Permit Required: A land use permit shall be required for recreational vehicles located on parcels that have sole access by water. C. Not Allowed: Recreational vehicles shall not be allowed on parcels that are or have been improperly created.
Full Breakdown
Zoning Ordinance 62 treats parked RVs as a land use, not just a vehicle. A lets a landowner keep a recreational vehicle without a land use permit if five conditions hold: no more than one RV per parcel under the zone district's rules for principal uses, the RV carries a current motor vehicle license, it meets the same setback the district requires for a principal structure, vegetative removal and shoreland alteration standards are followed, and County sewage treatment standards are met. B, which requires a land use permit whenever the RV sits on a parcel with access only by water.
C bars RVs outright on parcels that are, or have been, improperly created, meaning unrecorded or non-conforming splits. Shoreland parcels layer on extra scrutiny: an RV near a lake or river must also respect the shore impact zone and any bluff setback in Article III's dimensional tables for that water body's classification. A are not satisfied.
Violations & Fines
An RV kept in violation of Section 6.3 is a zoning violation under Article VIII. The Director investigates, notifies the owner and sets a compliance deadline under Section 8.2.A; unresolved cases go to the County Attorney. Continued non-compliance is a misdemeanor under Section 8.2.B, with fines paid to the county's general revenue fund, and the county may also seek injunctive relief to force removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I park two RVs on my St. Louis County property?
Does my camper need a current license plate to sit in the yard?
What if my lot is only reachable by boat?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Louis County
How St. Louis County compares: Cities with the Strictest Parking Rules·Compare St. Louis County to another location·View the Minnesota parking rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.