RV parking rules in City of North Tonawanda, NY

City of North Tonawanda RV parking at a glance

Can an RV use a municipal parking lot?

Section 96-56B excludes parking, standing and stopping of motorhomes, campers, trailers and the other named vehicle classes on municipal property, including City parking lots, parks and other City-owned property. It preserves vehicles making local deliveries and pickups to surrounding and adjoining businesses, or other City authorization. Ordinary trip preparation is not automatically a business-delivery exception.

What is a terrace?

A terrace is City land between the curb or pavement edge and sidewalk, or the abutting property line where there is no sidewalk. It is not a private driveway or an ordinary curbside travel lane. Section 96-59B covers RVs and trailers adjoining residential property on both curbed and uncurbed streets. The tax assessment determines residential/commercial classification; disputes go to the Traffic Safety Committee. Commercial terraces are outside §96-59, but that does not exempt them from other rules.

How does a hardship permit work?

The abutting property owner must obtain the permit from the Traffic Safety Committee after investigation establishes an actual hardship, not mere inconvenience. Parking under the permit is allowed only November 1 through April 1. The published application fee is $20, followed by a $5 annual permit/renewal fee; renewal is required before January 31 and is automatic after payment. Confirm current fees and the permit terms.

What remains restricted with a permit?

Section 96-58 forbids terrace parking within 20 feet of an intersection crosswalk, or where one would be, unless official signs or markings indicate a different distance. Have the City confirm how the specific terrace permit operates alongside the amended municipal-property rule. Neither rule creates a sleeping, utility-hookup or private-yard storage permission.

Which RV definition applies?

For terrace Article VII, an RV is built on one chassis, at most 400 square feet at its largest horizontal projections, self-propelled or permanently towable by a light-duty truck, and designed for temporary recreational, camping, travel or seasonal quarters rather than a permanent dwelling. A trailer is a wheeled vehicle drawn by another powered source. These are this article’s own definitions.

Who to ask about your setup

Ask City of North Tonawanda code enforcement for the exact parcel, zoning district, vehicle classification and intended use. Ask police about the particular street or public lot. Private covenants, approved site plans, utility approvals and property-owner consent remain separate.

Use the City of North Tonawanda 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

• City of North Tonawanda §96-56, municipal property

• Terrace Article VII, §§96-57–96-62.3

• City code and new laws

A review date records when we checked these sources. An address-specific city determination may still be required. Read our research method.