Main residential rule
An RV may not sit within 15 feet of the front curb or front yard. If it is within 15 feet of a side or rear property line, it must be screened from view by a solid fence at least 6 feet high. The RV may not be used for habitation.
Research by Can I Park My RV?Official municipal codeEditorial standard
Four-part rule audit
The Unified Development Code supplies rules that the shorter resident guidance does not spell out.
- Private-property storage
- Confirmed with conditions: stay at least 15 feet from the front curb/front yard; use 6-foot solid screening when within 15 feet of a side or rear property line.
- Public street
- Address-specific: City Code §19-194 restricts oversized vehicles on specified streets and in posted areas. Where that restriction applies, actual loading or unloading is the relevant exception.
- Loading or trip preparation
- Loading/unloading may last only as actually necessary. Trip preparation is limited to 48 hours before and 24 hours after use, no more than twice in a calendar month.
- Sleeping or habitation
- Prohibited: §35-383 says a residentially parked recreational vehicle may not be used for habitation under any circumstances.
Can I park an RV in my San Antonio driveway?
A maintained driveway can be the parking area, but “driveway” alone is not a yes. The RV must remain outside the first 15 feet measured from the front curb or front yard, must not block a sidewalk or public access, and may still be affected by the oversized-vehicle rules.
What about a side or rear yard?
If the RV is parked within 15 feet of a side or rear property line, a solid screen fence at least 6 feet high is required. The city’s resident guidance also explains which vehicle surfaces are maintained parking areas; confirm an unusual gravel, ribbon-drive or rear-yard surface with Development Services.
Trip preparation is not long-term storage
The code allows actual loading or unloading for only the time necessary. It also creates a trip-preparation window: up to 48 hours before a trip and 24 hours after a trip, no more than twice in a calendar month. Water, sewer or power connections are otherwise prohibited and should not be treated as permission to occupy the RV.
Street parking needs the exact block
City Code §19-194 regulates oversized vehicles on specified streets and in areas where restrictions are posted. Because the rule is location-dependent, a citywide “yes” would be misleading. Use the exact block, signs and vehicle dimensions when checking with 311 or Parking Enforcement.
Quick answers
How far must an RV be from the San Antonio curb?
Section 35-383 says an RV may not be parked within 15 feet of the front curb or the front yard. Confirm how the city measures the relevant line on an unusual lot.
Can an RV be parked on grass?
The published RV instruction calls for an improved surface, and the city expressly prohibits parking on an unimproved front or side yard. Grass alone does not match that guidance.
Can an HOA prohibit an RV that meets the city rule?
Yes. HOA covenants and deed restrictions are private rules and can be stricter than municipal placement standards.
Can a guest sleep in the RV for a weekend?
No under the residential RV provision reviewed. Section 35-383 says the recreational vehicle may not be used for habitation; the trip-preparation window does not create a sleeping exception.
Before you park
- Measure the 15-foot front restriction and the distance to side/rear property lines.
- Add a solid 6-foot screen where the side/rear distance requires it.
- Keep the sidewalk, right-of-way and alley clear.
- Use the short trip-preparation window only for that purpose.
- Do not sleep in the RV or connect utilities for habitation.
- Check HOA, lease and deed restrictions separately.
Contact San Antonio Development Services through 311 with the address, vehicle dimensions, parking surface and distances to each property line. For a street, include the exact block and posted signs.
Official sources reviewed
We used San Antonio’s resident-facing vehicle guidance, UDC §35-383 for residential RV placement and use, and City Code §19-194 for street/location restrictions.