El Paso County, CO Parking Rules: RV & Boat Parking (2026)
Key Facts
- Covers
- outdoor storage or parking of any inoperable vehicle or recreational vehicle; outdoor storage of vehicle parts
- Where it applies
- any lot or parcel used for residential purposes or within a Residential or Agricultural Zoning District
- A-35 exception
- a maximum of 10 inoperable non-agricultural vehicles as part of a rural home occupation
- Citation
- El Paso County Land Development Code § 5.2.42(2)
Summary
Section 5.2.42(2) of the El Paso County Land Development Code prohibits the outdoor storage or parking of "any inoperable vehicle or recreational vehicle", and the outdoor storage of vehicle parts, on lots used for residential purposes and on land in a Residential or Agricultural zoning district in the unincorporated county. The A-35 district has a limited exception tied to rural home occupations.
The outdoor storage or parking of any inoperable vehicle or recreational vehicle and the outdoor storage of any vehicles parts, shall be prohibited on any lot or parcel used for residential purposes or within a Residential or Agricultural Zoning District, except within the A-35 zoning district where a maximum of 10 inoperable non-agricultural vehicles shall be allowed as part of a rural home occupation.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Land Development Code: Supplement 3 | Drainage Criteria Manual: Publication | Engineering Criteria Manual: Supplement 3 | Ordinances: Reformat).
Full Breakdown
The prohibition in Section 5.2.42(2) has several parts, and each affects how it applies to a property in unincorporated El Paso County.
What is covered. The text names the outdoor storage or parking of any inoperable vehicle or recreational vehicle, plus the outdoor storage of any vehicle parts. For vehicles, both storing and parking are covered, so the rule is not limited to long-term storage. For parts, the text speaks only of storage. Every piece of the prohibition is tied to the word "outdoor", so Section 5.2.42(2) is aimed at what sits in the open on a lot.
Where it applies. The ban applies on "any lot or parcel used for residential purposes" or within a Residential or Agricultural Zoning District. Those are alternatives joined by "or". A parcel that is actually used as a residence is covered because of that use, and a parcel inside a Residential or Agricultural district is covered because of its zoning.
The A-35 exception. The only exception written into Section 5.2.42(2) is for the A-35 zoning district. There, a maximum of 10 inoperable non-agricultural vehicles is allowed, and only "as part of a rural home occupation". The exception is narrow. It applies in A-35 and not in the other Agricultural or Residential districts. It is capped at 10 vehicles. It is described in terms of inoperable non-agricultural vehicles, and it does not mention recreational vehicles or vehicle parts. It also depends on the vehicles being part of a rural home occupation, which the county page describes as an approved use under Chapter 5 of the Land Development Code.
Reading the text closely. The phrase "any inoperable vehicle or recreational vehicle" is quoted here exactly as it appears in Section 5.2.42(2). The quoted sentence does not define "inoperable" or "recreational vehicle", so owners should check how the El Paso County Land Development Code uses those terms before relying on this paragraph alone.
Violations & Fines
Storing or parking a prohibited vehicle outdoors on a residential or agricultural lot violates § 5.2.42(2) and is subject to PCD code enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I store an RV outside my house in unincorporated El Paso County?
Is there an exception for agricultural properties?
Does the El Paso County rule cover vehicle parts?
My parcel is not zoned Residential, but I live on it. Does the rule apply?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in El Paso County
How El Paso County compares: Cities with the Strictest Parking Rules·Compare El Paso County to another location·View the Colorado parking rules overview
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