Jurisdiction and research scope
City of University Place, Washington only; not neighboring municipalities or unincorporated county territory. Current published UPMC §19.30.040B(4), history through Ordinance 779 §2 (2024), read November 6, 2026.
Research by Can I Park My RV?Official municipal sources; access limits shown belowEditorial standard
University Place RV parking at a glance
| Location or use | What to check |
|---|---|
| Driveway / yard | Use a hard-surface side or rear location; if site constraints prevent side/rear storage, park off site. Ordinary outdoor route: two total licensed boats/RVs, safe driveway sightlines and clean condition; additional equipment has a separate screening route. |
| Street / loading | Habitation in the public right-of-way is prohibited; private accessory parking rules do not authorize street storage. No separate loading clock is established by the accessory-use rule. |
| Sleeping / utilities | One visiting nonresident RV on residential property with an existing dwelling: up to five days without permit, up to 14 with City use permit, at most one permit per six months. No utility-connection authorization is established by the accessory parking or guest exception. |
Storage and placement
The ordinary outdoor allowance covers a combined total of two currently licensed boats or motorized/nonmotorized RVs. They must remain clean and well kept, and cannot obstruct driveway-to-street sightlines so as to create a pedestrian or vehicle hazard. Additional boats or nonmotorized recreation vehicles have separate enclosure/screening conditions and cannot occupy required front or side setbacks; this is not an automatic allowance for additional motorhomes. The RV/travel-trailer conditions specify a hard surface in a side or rear yard, outside the right-of-way, with off-site parking if site constraints prevent that location.
Nonresident guests and duration
One RV or travel trailer may serve as a temporary dwelling on private residential property already containing another dwelling when its owner or user is a nonresident visiting a resident there. The code allows up to five days without a permit and an extended period not exceeding 14 days with a City RV-use permit. No more than one such permit may be granted in six months. This is not a route for a resident to move into their own RV or for ongoing tenancy. Screening from abutting properties is encouraged.
Streets, services and other approvals
Habitation is expressly prohibited in the public right-of-way. Ordinary street parking must be checked under the separate parking code. Serious-illness exceptions refer to the temporary-use chapter and require their own determination. The accessory-use chapter also requires a lawful principal use; vacant-lot camping is not this guest route. Parking or a guest-use permit does not itself approve utility work or other health and site requirements.
Who to contact for your setup
Ask University Place 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 University Place 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
- University Place §19.30.040B(4)
Two-vehicle outdoor route and temporary guest habitation conditions.
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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