RVs, Boats & Trailers

A recreational vehicle, utility trailer, or boat and boat trailer is permitted to be placed, kept, maintained, within the City only in certain areas or locations. All recreational vehicles, utility trailers, or boats and boat trailers must be parked on a cement slab. Storage on a driveway is permitted only if the vessel completely fits in the driveway, and does not encroach the sidewalk or the public street.

What is a Recreational Vehicle?

A recreational vehicle is a vehicular unit not exceeding forty (40') feet in length, eight (8') feet in width, and thirteen and one-half (13-1/2') feet in overall height, primarily designated as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use; it either has its own motive power or is designed to be mounted on or drawn by an automotive vehicle. The term "recreational vehicle" shall include motor homes, travel trailers, pick-up campers, camping trailers, converted trucks or buses, boats and boat trailers and all-terrain vehicles.

What is a Boat?

It is a vehicle for traveling in or on water, not exceeding forty (40') feet in body length, eight (8') feet in width, or thirteen and one half (13-1/2') feet in overall height. The height shall include the trailer if the boat is mounted on a trailer. A vehicle meeting this definition, except for size, shall not be deemed to be incidental to a dwelling unit and not permitted to park in residential areas except as allowed by ordinance.

What is a Utility Trailer?

It is a vehicle without motive power, not exceeding twenty (20') feet in length, eight (8') feet in width, and thirteen and one-half (13-1/2') feet in overall height, designed so that it can be drawn behind a motor vehicle in accordance with general highway laws. A private utility trailer, is considered incidental to the owners residential use of a property. It is not intended to mean truck trailers that would be a single or double trailer to be pulled behind a commercial vehicle or similar tractor-truck vehicle.

Owner Permission

It shall be unlawful for any person to place, keep, maintain, or occupy, or permit to be placed, kept, maintained, or occupied, any mobile home, recreational vehicle, utility trailer, boat or boat trailer, or camper upon any lot, piece, parcel of land or upon any street, highway or other public right-of-way without the permission of the private property owner or prior written permission of the public entity.

Prohibited Uses

Per TMC 9-2-114, "It shall be unlawful for any person to occupy, or permit to be occupied for dwelling purposes any mobile home, recreational vehicle, travel trailer, camp car, or camper upon any street, highway or other public right of way without the prior written permission of the Chief of Police, or his or her designee."

To report illegal parking or storing of recreational vehicles, call Code Enforcement at 209-664-7348, or complete the online citizen report form.

Permitted Locations in Residential Zones

• Parking is permitted inside any enclosed accessory structure or carport.
• Parking shall take place on a paved driveway or pad.
• Parking is permitted in the rear or interior side yard provided it is not closer than 4-feet to any parcel line, lot line, and does not block the only operable window or door of a room used for human habitation.
• Parking in the front yard shall only be permitted when space is not available in the rear or side yard (a corner lot is always deemed to have reasonable access to the rear yard and a fence is not necessarily deemed to prevent reasonable access), or when interior parking is not possible anywhere onsite.
• If the vehicle is to parked in the front yard, no part shall impede on safe pedestrian circulation, the vehicle shall be parked on a concrete pad, and the unit shall be owned by the resident on whose property it is parked

Temporary Occupancy, Uses or Parking

The temporary occupancy, use, or parking of any recreational vehicle, boat and boat trailer shall be permitted as follows:
• Temporary overnight sleeping is permitted within a recreational vehicle on property in a residential area for a maximum of fourteen (14) days in any one (1) calendar year provided, however, cooking shall not be permitted at any time. Any temporary occupancy of a utility trailer is prohibited at all times. Parking shall take place on a paved driveway or pad.
• Any temporary connections to electrical utilities or water service is permitted only for charging batteries and water tanks for a period not to exceed seventy-two (72) hours or other incidental or temporary uses as permitted. Any permanent connections to sewer lines, water lines, or electricity is prohibited.
• Temporary parking for recreational vehicles anywhere on the premises is permitted during active loading or unloading, including the temporary use of electricity or propane fuel, when it is necessary to prepare them for a recreational use, but not to exceed seventy-two (72) hours.



Can I build a second driveway on my property for my RV?

The quick answer is maybe. The TMC requires that your driveway approach widths do not exceed 40% of the total lot width and the paved area cannot occupy more than 55% of the total area of your front yard. Your plan will need to be reviewed and approved by the Planning Department and you will need to apply for an encroachment permit through the Engineering Department. You can contact the Planning Department at (209) 668-5640 or by email at planning@turlock.ca.us or the Engineering Department at (209) 668-5520 or by email at engineering@turlock.ca.us.

Online Citizen Report Form