Jurisdiction and research scope
City of Burlington, Washington only, not surrounding unincorporated Skagit County or another municipality. Current online codified sections retrieved November 6, 2026; section histories are retained with the sources. Later uncodified ordinances should be confirmed with the city.
Research by Can I Park My RV?Official municipal sourcesEditorial standard
Burlington RV parking at a glance
| Location or use | What to check |
|---|---|
| Driveway / yard | Garage/private-driveway storage is identified in the traffic code, subject to parcel requirements. Confirm the parcel zone, legal parking surface, setbacks, access and any private restrictions. |
| Street / loading | Residential street storage prohibited; qualifying trip preparation must remain unoccupied. Qualifying home-adjacent trip preparation: two consecutive days and two days per seven; no occupation. |
| Sleeping / utilities | One RV at a single-family residence: seven days without permit; longer stays need issued permit and city confirmation, maximum 30 days. No residential sewer connection or permanent connection to other residential utilities. |
Residential streets are not RV storage
BMC 10.12.170 prohibits RV storage on streets and sidewalks in residential zones, including multifamily areas. It identifies a garage or private driveway as storage locations. Its street exception is for the owner/operator’s home, immediately abutting the lot, solely for a planned trip starting or ending the same day. Use is capped at two consecutive days and two days per seven-day period, and the RV may not be occupied on the street.
One RV at a single-family residence
BMC 8.20.020(B) allows occupants of a single-family residence, regardless of zoning district, to camp in one RV for up to seven days without a permit. A city planning director temporary-use permit may extend that to no more than 30 days. The permit must be displayed visibly; each residence is limited to one permit per six months. The temporary-use provisions address front-yard placement, screening and accessory setbacks for the permit’s effective period.
Annual limit and utility restrictions
Temporary RV occupation cannot exceed 30 days in a consecutive 12-month period outside designated parks. Residential sewer connections and permanent connections to other residential utilities are prohibited. BMC 10.12.180 separately contains a seven-day residence exception: use the camping permit process and obtain city clarification for longer stays rather than assuming that a general parking allowance overrides it.
Public camping is separate
Camping on public streets, alleys, sidewalks, other public places and city parks is prohibited except in park areas explicitly designated by the parks director. A travel-preparation parking exception is not permission for a guest to sleep at the curb.
Who to ask about your setup
Ask Burlington 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 Burlington 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 10.12.170–10.12.200
Residential street storage, resident-trip exception, occupancy and repair rules.
- BMC chapter 8.20 camping
Private camping exception, permit limits, public camping ban and utility restrictions.
A review date records when we checked these sources. An address-specific city determination may still be required. Read our research method.
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