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Sullivan County, TN Parking Rules: RV & Boat Parking (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
Zoning Resolution § 8-105
Applies to
Unincorporated Sullivan County only
Allowed use
Temporary, seasonal only
Approved locations
Campground, lake lot, storage area
Enforcement
Building Commissioner, § 12-107.1
Penalty
Up to $500 per day

Summary

Sullivan County's Zoning Resolution bars using a camper, RV, or other vehicle as a permanent residence or storage building anywhere in the unincorporated county. Under Section 8-105, such vehicles may sit on a lot only for temporary, seasonal use in an approved campground, an approved lake lot, or an approved storage area not currently occupied.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Sullivan County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

8-105 Restriction of Recreational and/or Automotive Vehicles as Permanent Dwellings or Storage - No camper, Recreational Vehicle (RV), or any other automotive vehicle may be used as a permanent residential dwelling or storage structure. All such vehicles or campers shall only be allowed, as they were designed, for temporary and seasonal use within an approved campground facility, approved lake lot, or otherwise stored in an approved storage area not in use.

Full Breakdown

Section 8-105 of the Sullivan County Zoning Resolution, adopted under the county's Article 13-7-101 through 13-7-116 zoning authority, targets the two most common misuses of a recreational vehicle on residential land: living in it and using it as a storage shed. The rule reaches campers, RVs, and 'any other automotive vehicle,' and it applies only within the unincorporated county; Kingsport, Bristol, and Bluff City administer their own zoning and are not covered by this resolution. A property owner may keep an RV or camper on a lot, but only for the temporary, seasonal use it was built for, parked at an approved campground facility, an approved lake lot, or an approved storage area that is not otherwise in use.

The section cross-references the Temporary Supplemental Use standards for campground facilities in Appendix B and Appendix D, which set the permit conditions for any campground or lake-lot operation that wants to host such vehicles. Companion Section 8-106 separately bans inoperable vehicles, in whole or in parts, from outdoor storage in residential and planned districts, so a nonworking RV or trailer faces that stricter rule instead. 1, who must record, investigate, and act on any written complaint. The Commissioner enforces both sections as part of the general duty to administer zoning permits and stop unpermitted work or occupancy county-wide.

Violations & Fines

A confirmed violation of Section 8-105 is a misdemeanor under Section 12-107.2 of the Zoning Resolution, punishable as provided by law, with a civil penalty of up to $500 per offense. Each day the RV or camper remains in violation counts as a separate offense, so the fine compounds daily until the vehicle is removed or relocated to an approved location. Owners, tenants, and any contractor who assists in maintaining the violation can each be cited separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I park my RV in my driveway in Sullivan County?
Not as a residence or storage. Section 8-105 lets you keep a camper or RV on a lot only for temporary, seasonal use as designed. Living in it or leaving it as permanent storage violates the resolution unless it sits in an approved campground, an approved lake lot, or an approved storage area not currently in use.
Does this rule apply inside Kingsport or Bristol?
No. The Zoning Resolution governs only the unincorporated area of Sullivan County. Kingsport, Bristol, and Bluff City each administer their own zoning codes, so an RV parked inside those city limits falls under the city's ordinance, not Section 8-105.
What happens if my RV is broken down, not just parked?
A nonworking vehicle falls under the separate inoperable-vehicle ban in Section 8-106, which strictly prohibits outdoor storage of inoperable vehicles, in whole or in parts, in residential and planned districts, regardless of how long it has been broken down.
Who enforces the RV parking rule and what's the fine?
The Building Commissioner enforces Section 8-105 after a written complaint under Section 12-107.1. A violation is a misdemeanor carrying a civil penalty up to $500 under Section 12-107.2, with each day of continued violation charged as a separate offense.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Sullivan County

All Sullivan County rules

How Sullivan County compares: Cities with the Strictest Parking Rules·Compare Sullivan County to another location·View the Tennessee parking rules overview

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