Jurisdiction and research scope
Unincorporated Clackamas County only, not Oregon City, Lake Oswego, Milwaukie, West Linn, Wilsonville or other incorporated cities. ZDO 847 added by Ordinance ZDO-285 effective September 3, 2024; official county adoption page and current-linked text read November 6, 2026. Later state tenancy requirements and parcel approvals must also be confirmed.
Research by Can I Park My RV?Official municipal sources; access limits shown belowEditorial standard
Clackamas County RV parking at a glance
| Location or use | What to check |
|---|---|
| Driveway / yard | Residential RV use needs Type I approval and placement 10–100 ft from the primary dwelling. Primary-dwelling setbacks and overlays apply; second-dwelling RVs are prohibited in the Floodplain Management District. |
| Street / loading | The private second-dwelling route does not authorize public-street parking or residence. Loading and unoccupied storage have separate requirements. |
| Sleeping / utilities | One approved rental RV on an eligible owner-occupied property; no short-term rental of either dwelling. Approved wastewater, potable water at least 20 psi, suitable electrical supply, and connected working sink/toilet are required. |
Eligible land and one primary home
The county adopted this option August 1, 2024, effective September 3, 2024. It applies to certain single-family residential land inside the Portland Metro urban growth boundary, or outside both an urban growth boundary and urban reserve. The lot must have exactly one primary dwelling and no ADU, guest house or other dwelling. An owner must live in the main home at least six months each calendar year, with no part rented as a residential tenancy.
Placement and land-use approval
An RV as a second dwelling requires Type I review. Keep the RV between 10 and 100 feet from the primary dwelling and meet primary-dwelling setbacks and applicable overlay rules. This use is prohibited in the Floodplain Management District. The RV must be titled and must not be rendered structurally immobile. The approval has a four-year implementation window; that is not a four-year limit on an already implemented tenancy.
Services and the rental arrangement
A written residential rental agreement is required. The county text allows an RV owned by the tenant or property owner; confirm the current tenancy ownership/lease requirements with Planning. The owner must provide essential services, including approved sewage disposal, potable water at least 20 psi at the connection, and electrical capacity suited to the RV. A working sink and toilet must connect to the approved sewage system. Neither the home nor the RV may be a short-term rental.
Do not apply this to ordinary storage
The second-dwelling approval does not determine every unoccupied storage, street-parking or temporary camping question. Obtain the required planning, plumbing, electrical and wastewater decisions before setting up residential use. A parcel with a city mailing address may still be county-administered, but city limits must be confirmed.
Who to contact for your setup
Ask Clackamas County 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 Clackamas County 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
- Clackamas County ZDO 847, RVs as Second Dwellings
Adopted September 3, 2024; complete three-page land-use, setback, services and implementation standards.
- Clackamas County secondary dwelling options
Official adoption and location eligibility: certain unincorporated residential land within Metro UGB or outside both a UGB and urban reserve.
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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