Jurisdiction and research scope
Unincorporated San Juan County, Washington only. Incorporated cities and towns, tribal lands and separately administered public lands require their own governing rules. Not the Town of Friday Harbor. Eastsound and other subarea rules, shoreline portions and density limits require parcel-specific confirmation. Official DCD Policy BP-2022-01 issued September 1, 2022, currently served by the County and read November 6, 2026. The policy reserves Director modification and cites older building-code provisions; confirm current permit implementation and district rules before occupancy.
Research by Can I Park My RV?Official municipal sources; access limits shown belowEditorial standard
San Juan County RV parking at a glance
| Location or use | What to check |
|---|---|
| Driveway / yard | Owner’s unoccupied RV may be stored with an existing dwelling; required screening and highway-ready configuration apply. 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 use up to 180 days under policy; permanent use requires district-specific land-use approval. Stored RV: power allowed, water/sewage not allowed. Temporary use: filed sewage plan and written water approval. |
Stored RVs are not dwellings
The policy allows an owner’s RV to be stored on a lot with an existing dwelling when it is not used as a dwelling. Stored RVs need screening where required and a highway-ready configuration. They may connect to power but not water or sewage. The storage category requires Washington registration but not current plate tabs. This category should not be used to disguise occupied living quarters.
Temporary occupancy and sanitation
The policy describes temporary use up to 180 days, with current vehicle licensing and registration. File a written sewage-disposal and water plan with Health & Community Services. Sewage may use permitted septic or a waste tank serviced under a written licensed-pumper contract filed with the County. Water needs written approval. Temporary water/sewage connections must be maintained. Longer construction-related use needs a temporary-use permit associated with a building permit and is not an automatic extension.
Permanent use requires a separate decision
The policy treats permanent RV use as an unnamed residential use requiring land-use approval where allowed. It applies density, owner/immediate-family occupancy, certification, NFPA 1192, water and septic requirements; RVs are not an ADU substitute or a rental-unit route. Permanent use is prohibited on the shoreline portion subject to the Shoreline Management Act and county shoreline program. Its broader shoreline wording should be resolved for the actual parcel with DCD rather than assumed away.
Who to contact for your setup
Ask San Juan 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 San Juan 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
- San Juan County policy: Recreational Vehicles and Tiny Homes
Five-page official policy on stored, temporary and permanent RV categories, health plans, ownership, density and shoreline restrictions.
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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