Jurisdiction and research scope
City of Somerville, Massachusetts. Section 9-57(d) addresses outdoor storage on lots containing a dwelling unit; it is not a complete zoning approval for all parcels, streets or occupied RV uses. Sources read November 6, 2026. Current City Code portal read November 6, 2026. Section 9-57 records Ordinance 2010-10, November 9, 2010; the portal labels that section effective on the same date. The current compilation includes 2026 ordinances elsewhere.
Research by Can I Park My RV?Official municipal sources; access limits shown belowEditorial standard
Somerville RV parking at a glance
| Location or use | What to check |
|---|---|
| driveway | Outdoor residential storage: front-most dwelling facade limit, solid six-foot screening and no living/housekeeping/business occupancy. |
| street | Ordinary street parking needs separate traffic rules; §9-57(a) prohibits vehicle repair/restoration/maintenance on streets or public property. |
| guest | Section 9-57(d) prohibits living, housekeeping or business occupancy of the stored unit, subject to its construction/emergency-housing exclusions. |
Can I store an RV outdoors at a Somerville home?
Section 9-57(d) says one recreational vehicle, boat or utility trailer may be stored outside a building on a lot containing a dwelling unit. Confirm the vehicle’s classification and how the City applies the one-unit wording to mixed vehicle types. This provision does not replace the parcel’s other zoning, access, nuisance or abandoned-vehicle requirements.
Where must the stored RV be placed?
The RV, boat or trailer may not be closer to the street than the existing front facade of the front-most dwelling unit on the property. It must be sight-screened from the street and abutting properties by solid fencing at least six feet high. A generic side-yard label or landscaping alone does not establish compliance.
Can guests sleep in the stored RV?
Section 9-57(d) prohibits living, housekeeping or business occupancy. It excludes lawfully erected construction trailers and limited-duration emergency housing authorized by the superintendent of inspectional services from that provision. An ordinary guest visit is not automatically authorized emergency housing. Parking, storage and utilities do not create a dwelling approval.
Do repair and registration rules also matter?
Stored units must remain in good repair and comply with other nuisance and abandoned-vehicle rules. Section 9-57(b) separately limits outdoor unregistered motor vehicles to one and no more than 90 days, with enclosed-building and licensed-dealer exceptions. Section 9-57(c) addresses motor vehicles incapable of movement under their own power for at least seven days, with building/dealer exceptions. A nonmotorized trailer is not automatically an inoperable motor vehicle. Section 9-57(a) prohibits repair, restoration or maintenance of any vehicle on streets or public property.
Who to contact for your setup
Ask Somerville Inspectional Services about vehicle classification, the dwelling lot, front facade, screening and any emergency-housing authority. Ask traffic staff separately about public-way parking. Confirm lease, deed and HOA restrictions independently.
Use the Somerville 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
- Somerville §9-57, current Code of Ordinances
Complete section: outdoor residential RV storage, location, screening, occupancy, condition and exceptions.
- Somerville Ordinance 2010-10
Adopted amendment establishing the current subsection (d), also shown in the current code.
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 city determination may still be required. Read our research method.
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