Jurisdiction and research scope
Municipality of Penn Hills, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania only. Sources read November 6, 2026. This is the home-rule Municipality of Penn Hills in Allegheny County. Sections 1260.07 and 1278.02 are used for this limited storage guide. The code lists charter and shade-tree amendments in 2026, not a complete guarantee against later changes. Occupancy language in the separate mobile-home-park chapter needs its own scope determination.
Research by Can I Park My RV?Official municipal sources; access limits shown belowEditorial standard
Municipality of Penn Hills RV parking at a glance
| Location or use | What to check |
|---|---|
| Private property | Accessory listing does not automatically approve a front driveway. Residential accessory definition lists side yard, rear yard or garage; no parking in required transitional yard. |
| Street and loading | Separate traffic/right-of-way determination needed. No loading waiver; no motor-vehicle repair in conjunction with parking facilities. |
| Guest occupancy | Storage definition does not permit living; §1252.09 mobile-home-park chapter must be applied to the site. |
Where does Penn Hills recognize residential RV storage?
The residential accessory-use definition in §1260.07 lists a boat, camper, recreation vehicle or utility trailer located in a rear yard, side yard or garage. An accessory use must be on the same lot and customarily incidental and subordinate to the principal use. This is not a front-lawn storage approval.
The code’s yard definitions matter: a corner or through lot has street-abutting front yards, and no rear yard. Ask zoning staff to identify the legal yard rather than assuming the driveway side is a side yard.
Does a larger motorhome fit the zoning definition?
The “Vehicle, Recreational” definition limits body length to 30 feet, width to eight feet and overall height to 11 feet. It covers temporary living-quarter units with their own power or mounted on/drawn by an automotive vehicle, including motorhomes, truck campers, travel trailers and camping trailers. A larger unit needs an official classification; do not assume the definition itself creates a universal size prohibition.
The separate 11,000-pound residential accessory-vehicle provision in §1278.02(c)(5) expressly excepts recreation vehicles. That exception is not permission to ignore the RV definition or parking placement.
What other parking restrictions matter?
Section 1278.02 protects required parking spaces from being reduced and prohibits parking in required transitional yards. Driveways and open off-street spaces generally require bituminous or concrete surfacing, with alternative dust-free surfaces allowed for single-family residences and I-1/I-2 properties. Two spaces are required for a single-family dwelling. No motor-vehicle repair work is permitted in conjunction with parking facilities in any district.
Can the stored RV become living quarters?
The accessory-storage definition does not authorize sleeping or residence. Section 1252.09, within the mobile-home-park chapter, says no recreation vehicle may be used as primary or accessory living quarters or a dwelling. Ask the Municipality to determine its application to the particular site; this guide does not convert that chapter into a complete citywide occupancy ruling. Utility work requires separate approval.
Does the storage route permit street parking?
No. Public-right-of-way and traffic rules remain separate. Section 1278.02(c)(6) addresses commercial and nonrunning vehicles in rights-of-way; its business exception is not a general RV overnight allowance.
What should I confirm before parking?
Give municipal zoning or code-enforcement staff the parcel address, vehicle type, parking position and intended use. Ask Police about streets and current signs. Confirm subsequent ordinances, easements, approved site plans and private restrictions. A vehicle-storage answer does not authorize sleeping, utility installation or a campground.
Who to contact for your setup
Contact Municipality of Penn Hills zoning/code enforcement for the parcel and proposed use; contact municipal Police for current street restrictions.
Use the Municipality of Penn Hills 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
- Penn Hills §1260.07: accessory use, RV and yard definitions
Residential accessory listing and 30-foot/eight-foot/11-foot RV definition.
- Penn Hills §1278.02: off-street parking
Surface, required spaces, transitional-yard and repair restrictions; RV exception to the 11,000-pound rule.
- Penn Hills §1252.09 in Mobile Home Parks
February 1, 1993, Ordinance 2136; living-quarters prohibition requires attention to chapter scope.
- Penn Hills unincorporated laws
2026 charter and shade-tree amendments listed.
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 municipality determination may still be required. Read our research method.
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