RV parking rules in West Chester Borough

West Chester Borough RV parking at a glance

Can I park an RV on a West Chester street?

Current §104-17 prohibits leaving an oversized vehicle or unattached trailer on public streets, highways, rights-of-way, alleys, Borough land or Borough parking lots without prior Borough Parking Department approval.

Section 104-1 defines oversized vehicles to include motorhomes, recreational vehicles, recreation trailers, house trailers, truck campers, tent trailers and other named equipment, in addition to vehicles of at least 10,000 pounds GVW. A small RV is not automatically exempt because it is below that weight. Older sources use §104-39; the September 2026 edition uses §104-17.

What loading and breakdown exceptions apply?

For oversized vehicles, §104-17B excepts active loading/unloading of people or property, parking connected with providing a service on property in the same block, or a mechanical breakdown for emergency repairs lasting no more than 24 consecutive hours. For a breakdown, notify the Borough Parking or Police Department of the vehicle make, model and location.

The statement that a violating vehicle may be removed after more than 48 hours is an enforcement provision, not a 48-hour parking allowance. An exception to this one prohibition does not waive other signs, clearances or traffic rules.

Where can I store an RV at home?

Section 112-807F permits RV/travel-trailer storage at the side or rear of the principal permitted use, or in a garage or roofed structure. Outdoor storage must remain outside the applicable required-yard setbacks and be screened from adjacent property under the landscaping standards.

Section 112-807 also protects rights-of-way, pedestrian areas, required parking and required front yards from outside storage, subject to its stated commercial-district and sale exceptions. It regulates storage-area size, including a less-than-half-building-coverage standard and a special-exception route capped at 25% of the lot. Have zoning staff apply the complete section to the proposed RV footprint.

Can the stored RV be used as accommodation?

The cited storage section does not authorize sleeping, residence, hookups or a campground. Confirm those uses separately. This guide covers West Chester Borough, not West Goshen, East Goshen or West Chester Township in Ohio.

Which municipality and approvals apply?

West Chester Borough, Chester County, Pennsylvania only. The code publisher includes legislation through September 16, 2026; sources read November 6, 2026. Later ordinances, parcel approvals and private restrictions require confirmation.

A mailing address does not establish the governing municipality. Ask the municipal zoning office about your parcel, zoning district, legal yard lines and vehicle classification. Ask police separately about public streets. Storage rules do not create a campsite or authorize utility work.

Who to contact for your setup

Contact the municipal zoning office before changing the parking footprint or using an RV as accommodation. Confirm any later amendments, site approvals and HOA or lease restrictions.

Use the West Chester Borough 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

• West Chester §104-17, oversized vehicles

  Current September 2026 code numbering; prior sources used §104-39. Complete loading, same-block service and breakdown exceptions.

• West Chester §104-1, oversized-vehicle definition

  Names RVs and trailers independently of the 10,000-pound GVW category.

• West Chester §112-807, outdoor storage

  Subsection F is RV-specific; general storage conditions in A–E also require parcel review.

• West Chester §112-202, RV definition

  General zoning definition includes motorhomes, trailers and leisure equipment.

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 borough determination may still be required. Read our research method.