Wauwatosa, WI Parking Rules: RV & Boat Parking (2026)
Key Facts
- RV definition
- Campers, jet skis, boats, trailers, utility trailers
- Per-lot limit
- No more than 2 RVs outside a garage
- Front yard
- RV storage prohibited entirely
- Side/rear yard storage
- Must stay free of tall grass and weeds
- Condition required
- Must be operable and properly registered
- Living use
- RVs may not be used as living quarters
Summary
Wauwatosa limits recreational vehicles, defined to include campers, jet skis, boats and trailers, to two per residential lot outside an enclosed building. RVs cannot be stored in the front yard, must stay operable and registered, and cannot be used as living quarters while parked on the property under Section 15.32.030.
"Recreational vehicles (RVs)" means campers, jet skis, boats and trailers, and utility trailers. ... Recreational vehicles (RVs) are only permitted under the following conditions: No more than two RVs can be parked on a residential lot outside of an enclosed building. RVs cannot be stored in the front yard. Side or rear yard storage areas must be maintained free from tall grass and weeds. RVs must be in operable condition and properly registered. RVs shall not be used for living while on the premises.
Full Breakdown
030's exterior property requirements. No more than two RVs may be parked on a residential lot outside of an enclosed building at any time. Front-yard storage is off-limits entirely: RVs cannot be stored there under any circumstance. Side- or rear-yard storage areas are allowed, but the code requires the owner to keep those areas free from tall grass and weeds, tying RV storage back into the same blight-prevention standard that governs the rest of the yard. Every stored RV must also be in operable condition and properly registered, ruling out derelict or unregistered units sitting on a driveway or side yard indefinitely, and none of them may be used for living purposes while parked on the premises. 060 of the zoning code. 32's broader 2016, 2019 and 2022 updates (Ord. O-16-24, Ord. O-19-34, Ord. O-22-43).
Violations & Fines
An RV stored in violation of Section 15.32.030, whether it is a third RV on the lot, a unit in the front yard, or an inoperable or unregistered vehicle, is enforced through Section 15.32.060's order-to-correct process and Section 15.32.070's citation and general penalty provisions, including Chapter 15.34's forfeitures starting at $100 for a first offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many RVs can I park at my Wauwatosa home?
Can I keep a camper in my front yard in Wauwatosa?
Can I live in an RV parked at my house in Wauwatosa?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wauwatosa
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