Jurisdiction and research scope
Almena Township, Van Buren County: §5.90 sleeping-equipped recreational vehicles. Ordinary private storage and municipality-approved temporary habitation only; commercial storage/repair facilities, approved RV parks and exceptional extension decisions are excluded.
Administrative screening of cited local provisions only. This is not a permit, legal opinion, occupancy approval or complete zoning determination. Confirm the entire proposal with the municipality.
Research by Can I Park My RV?Official municipal sources; access limits shown belowEditorial standard
Almena Township RV parking at a glance
| Location or use | What to check |
|---|---|
| Ordinary storage | Section 5.90 applies to travel trailers, camping trailers, motorhomes and truck campers with sleeping areas. Ordinary storage requires a principal building. Principal-building setbacks apply unless the RV is on a formal driveway leading to an attached or detached garage. Vehicles must be licensed, operable and regularly used for their intended purpose. |
| Temporary habitation requires approval | Living in an RV is prohibited except approved parks/campgrounds or §5.90(F). Temporary needs include a principal-dwelling resident’s medical needs, repair or reconstruction of a damaged/destroyed dwelling, or new-principal-dwelling construction. The RV must be on the affected property, meet setbacks, have dedicated power and approved well/septic connections. A §11.30(B) zoning permit is required; the initial term is one year. An administrator may grant a one-year extension for continuing need/substantial progress; a second one-year extension requires exceptional Planning Commission approval. |
| Stopping use and disconnecting utilities | Habitation must cease when the permit expires. Dedicated power, well and septic connections must be removed within 30 days of permit expiry. If construction receives its certificate of occupancy before permit expiry, the 30-day disconnection clock starts with that certificate. This screen does not decide extensions or the precise approved occupancy term. |
Ordinary storage
Section 5.90 applies to travel trailers, camping trailers, motorhomes and truck campers with sleeping areas. Ordinary storage requires a principal building. Principal-building setbacks apply unless the RV is on a formal driveway leading to an attached or detached garage. Vehicles must be licensed, operable and regularly used for their intended purpose.
Temporary habitation requires approval
Living in an RV is prohibited except approved parks/campgrounds or §5.90(F). Temporary needs include a principal-dwelling resident’s medical needs, repair or reconstruction of a damaged/destroyed dwelling, or new-principal-dwelling construction. The RV must be on the affected property, meet setbacks, have dedicated power and approved well/septic connections. A §11.30(B) zoning permit is required; the initial term is one year. An administrator may grant a one-year extension for continuing need/substantial progress; a second one-year extension requires exceptional Planning Commission approval.
Stopping use and disconnecting utilities
Habitation must cease when the permit expires. Dedicated power, well and septic connections must be removed within 30 days of permit expiry. If construction receives its certificate of occupancy before permit expiry, the 30-day disconnection clock starts with that certificate. This screen does not decide extensions or the precise approved occupancy term.
Who to contact for your setup
Ask the municipal zoning office or police department to confirm jurisdiction, classification, current amendments and any required approvals before acting.
Use the Almena Township parking checker to organize the starting conditions. The checker cannot approve a parcel, a variance or an unverified exception.
Official sources reviewed November 7, 2026
- Adopted Ordinance 2024-03
Complete signed three-page ordinance, visually reviewed; adopted July 17, 2024, adds §5.90.
- Official ordinance index
Continues to list Ordinance 2024-03 and the August 2024 consolidation.
A review date records when we checked these sources. The notes above explain any use of older code editions or limits on access to the full source; an address-specific local-government determination may still be required. Read our research method.
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