Jurisdiction and research scope
City of Blaine, Washington only, not surrounding unincorporated Whatcom County or another municipality. Current codified BMC 10.12 reflects Ordinance 3013 (2024); BMC 17.140.080 section history through Ordinance 2900 (2017). Retrieved November 6, 2026.
Research by Can I Park My RV?Official municipal sources; access limits shown belowEditorial standard
Blaine RV parking at a glance
| Location or use | What to check |
|---|---|
| Driveway / yard | Residential storage must meet site restrictions; multifamily storage needs designated areas. Confirm the parcel zone, legal parking surface, setbacks, access and any private restrictions. |
| Street / loading | 24-hour RV street maximum; no RV parking 10 p.m.–6 a.m. in the central business district or city-owned lots. Loading does not waive other street, placement or occupancy rules. |
| Sleeping / utilities | Occasional family/friend overnight use: no more than 30 days per calendar year, subject to the residential-lot rule. The text mentions occasional short-term electricity for limited purposes; no general water, sewer or permanent-hookup approval is inferred. |
Use the RV-specific 24-hour limit
BMC 10.12.070 limits an RV to 24 hours in residentially zoned public areas and prohibits more than 24 consecutive hours in one place on any city street. The general 48-hour vehicle provision does not override the specific RV limit. Moving within the same block on the same street to evade a limit is prohibited.
Downtown and city parking lots
No RV parking or storage is allowed in the central business district between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. RVs also may not park in city-owned lots during those hours. Posted restrictions may be more limiting. Publicly parked vehicles must be currently licensed and sufficiently equipped for legal road operation.
Residential guest use
BMC 17.140.080 applies to residentially zoned property. It restricts RV living, sleeping and housekeeping, with wording allowing occasional short-term electrical connection for maintenance, travel preparation, or overnight use by family members or friends for no more than 30 days in a calendar year. This is not a full-time residence, rental accommodation or general utility-connection authorization. Confirm any proposed connection and the particular site with the city.
Storage area matters
Multifamily lots other than duplexes allow outdoor storage only in designated storage areas. Isolated vacant lots not owned together with an adjacent single-family residence may not be used for outdoor storage. Yard setbacks, access, approved improvements and private restrictions still need a parcel-specific answer. A Blaine mailing address in Birch Bay does not establish city jurisdiction.
Who to contact for your setup
Ask Blaine Planning or Code Enforcement to confirm jurisdiction, the actual parcel or road, vehicle classification, position, duration and intended use. Obtain the required road, building, electrical, plumbing or wastewater approvals before relying on a parking exception. Easements, HOA rules and leases remain separate. Start with the official rule or permit guidance.
Use the Blaine parking checker to organize the starting conditions. The checker cannot approve a parcel, a variance or an unverified exception.
Official sources reviewed November 6, 2026
- BMC 10.12.070–10.12.080
RV-specific 24-hour rule, downtown/city-lot overnight ban and anti-reparking rule.
- BMC 17.140.080 residential lots
Outdoor storage restrictions and short-term family/friend use.
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 city determination may still be required. Read our research method.
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