Jurisdiction and research scope
City of Thompson Falls, Montana only, not surrounding unincorporated Sanders County or another municipality. City-linked Code Supplement 3, April 2023, through Ordinance 356 of January 9, 2023; Chapter 6-5 amended by Ordinance 348, October 13, 2020. The city separately posts zoning Ordinance 358 of July 8, 2024; this guide does not establish complete zoning approval. Read November 6, 2026; later uncodified changes and site-specific requirements require city confirmation.
Research by Can I Park My RV?Official municipal sources; access limits shown belowEditorial standard
Thompson Falls RV parking at a glance
| Location or use | What to check |
|---|---|
| Driveway / yard | Private placement and current zoning require confirmation; the occupancy chapter is not a driveway permit. Unoccupied storage is treated separately, without waiving other lawful-placement requirements. |
| Street / loading | The 30-day accommodation restriction does not override street parking limits or signs. No longer loading or street-storage exception is established by Chapter 6-5. |
| Sleeping / utilities | Ordinary accommodation cannot exceed 30 days without the stated exception; employment/construction use needs a permit before starting. Permitted occupancy requires city water/sewer or declared approved county wastewater disposal; confirm all connection permits. |
Thirty days does not mean every site is lawful
Chapter 6-5 bars maintaining an RV, camper or trailer as a residence or temporary living accommodation on a city street, alley or lot for more than 30 days except in a licensed trailer court or the stated permit route. A shorter stay still needs legal parking, property permission and current zoning approval. The 2024 zoning ordinance is separately posted, so obtain the current parcel determination.
Employment and construction occupancy needs a permit
An RV used while its occupant is employed by a private company, used for employment in the city, or occupied during construction, remodeling or reconstruction requires a temporary occupancy permit before occupancy starts. File the city application with location, vehicle identification and intended duration. The permit lasts 30 days; requests for another 30 days must arrive before expiry and require case-by-case mayoral approval.
Wastewater, storage and current requirements
The permit requires city water and sewer connections or disclosure of an approved, permitted wastewater disposal facility within the county. The RV must meet Community Decay requirements, which were subsequently updated in the code. Unoccupied storage has a separate exclusion for the specified licensed, operable and lawfully parked or privately stored vehicles; it does not erase other placement rules. Confirm current fees, zoning, services and the actual permit conditions.
Who to contact for your setup
Ask Thompson Falls 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 Thompson Falls 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
- Thompson Falls official ordinance downloads: Code Chapter 6-5
Current official code or city guidance; scope and limits described below.
- Thompson Falls Code Chapter 6-5, PDF pages 101–102
City-linked adopted RV chapter; later zoning requirements must be confirmed.
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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