Jurisdiction and research scope
Unincorporated Cowlitz County, Washington only. Incorporated cities and towns, tribal lands and separately administered public lands require their own governing rules. Current codified CCC 18.56.050, adopted by Ordinance 23-055 on July 11, 2023, read November 6, 2026. The exemption is chapter-specific and does not establish a universal duration or waive other laws.
Research by Can I Park My RV?Official municipal sources; access limits shown belowEditorial standard
Cowlitz County RV parking at a glance
| Location or use | What to check |
|---|---|
| Driveway / yard | The two-RV route requires an undivided lot and independent units or approved site sanitation. Confirm parcel setbacks, access, critical areas and any shoreline or floodplain restrictions. |
| Street / loading | The private-property rule does not authorize parking or camping on a public road. No independent extended loading exception is established by these sources. |
| Sleeping / utilities | Temporary, noncommercial use by up to two RVs on an undivided lot can be exempt from CCC 18.56. Independent units or health-approved potable water and sanitary facilities; connections need their own approval. |
A narrow two-RV exemption
CCC 18.56.050.G exempts an undivided lot used temporarily and noncommercially by up to two RVs or two camping sites, provided the units are independent or the lot has health-authority-approved potable water and sanitary facilities. This removes the named campground chapter’s requirements for a qualifying use; it is not permission to establish a residential rental business.
Storage and remote land are distinct
RV storage areas are separately exempt from this campground chapter. Temporary, noncommercial and dispersed camping on land designated Remote or Economic Resource Land–Forest Resource Land has another exemption. A tax label or wooded appearance does not prove that comprehensive-plan designation. Neither exemption supplies a countywide number of days or resolves every placement restriction.
Other approvals still matter
The code applies campground health requirements and allows correction of public-health, fire, access and safety issues. Confirm zoning, shorelines, critical areas, flood hazards and the actual wastewater arrangement. Streets, ordinary loading and ongoing residential use are not cleared by the small-lot campground exemption. For a paid campground or more units, obtain the applicable land-use approvals rather than treating the exemption as permission.
Who to contact for your setup
Ask Cowlitz 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 Cowlitz 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
- Cowlitz County Code 18.56: Campground Binding Site Plan Code
Sections 18.56.040–.050 define applicability and exempt qualifying two-RV noncommercial lots, storage areas and dispersed forest/remote camping.
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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