Summerville regulates RV, boat, and trailer storage on residential lots through its Town Code of Ordinances and Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). Recreational vehicles and watercraft are generally permitted on residential property only when stored on a paved or improved surface outside required front setbacks, with side and rear yard storage preferred. Vehicles must remain registered, must not be used as living quarters, and cannot have permanent utility connections. Town Code Enforcement (843-695-6511) handles complaints.
Summerville's residential RV, boat, and trailer storage rules sit in two places: the Town Code of Ordinances (hosted on Municode) and the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) administered by the Planning Department. The UDO sets accessory-use and yard standards for the town's residential districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, MHP, etc.) and Dorchester County's adopted standards apply outside the corporate limits. Key residential-storage rules: (1) Number — typically one recreational vehicle, one boat/trailer, and one utility trailer per dwelling, with additional units requiring screening or approval; (2) Surface — vehicles and trailers must be parked on a paved or all-weather improved surface, not on grass or bare soil; (3) Location — front-yard storage is discouraged and generally prohibited where side or rear yard access is reasonably available; (4) Setbacks — must observe the side and rear setbacks of the underlying zoning district (typically 5-10 feet); (5) Registration & condition — vehicles must be currently registered and operable, with no flat tires, missing parts, or visible disassembly; (6) Use — no person may occupy a parked RV or trailer as living quarters on a residential lot, and permanent connections to water, sewer, gas, or electric are prohibited. On-street RV/boat parking is governed by general traffic rules and the 24-72 hour maximum-stay provisions in Chapter 28 (Traffic and Vehicles). Because Summerville straddles Dorchester, Berkeley, and Charleston counties, owners should confirm their parcel's jurisdiction before assuming which set of rules applies.
Violations are enforced by Summerville Code Enforcement under Chapter 6 (Buildings and Building Regulations) and the UDO. Typical penalties start with a written notice and a cure period, escalating to municipal court citations with fines that can accumulate per day until the violation is corrected. Repeat or unabated violations may result in towing of the offending vehicle at the owner's expense under Chapter 28.
See how Summerville's rv & boat parking rules stack up against other locations.
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