Jurisdiction and research scope
Town of West Yellowstone, Montana only, not Yellowstone National Park, West Yellowstone mailing-area land outside the town, or Idaho. Current online Chapters 10.08 and 8.12 read November 6, 2026. Section 10.08.020 history includes Ordinance 262 (2016); the older 1980 overnight clause does not override the broader camping prohibition.
Research by Can I Park My RV?Official municipal sources; access limits shown belowEditorial standard
West Yellowstone RV parking at a glance
| Location or use | What to check |
|---|---|
| Driveway / yard | Private driveway storage and occupancy require a separate zoning answer. The town-property camping rule does not establish private-yard permission. |
| Street / loading | Unoccupied street parking has a five-day ceiling; highway rights-of-way have 48 hours, subject to signs and all other restrictions. Loading does not waive the public-property sleeping prohibition. |
| Sleeping / utilities | Camping or temporary sleeping in a vehicle on town property is prohibited at any time without the specific Council waiver. Do not discharge wastewater on property; lawful utility arrangements need separate approval. |
Town property is not an overnight campsite
Section 10.08.020(G) prohibits camping or using a vehicle or temporary structure as a temporary sleeping area on town property at any time. Streets, parks, town lots and facility parking lots are expressly included. A Town Council waiver is available for qualifying organizations with specific preplanned events, not automatically for an individual visitor.
Unoccupied parking still has restrictions
The general limits are 48 hours on a public-highway right-of-way and five days on a town street or government property not reserved for parking. These ceilings do not override official signs, marked spaces, hydrants, driveways or other prohibited positions. Follow seasonal snow-removal and maintenance notices requiring removal within 24 hours.
Older overnight text and wastewater
Chapter 8.12 separately prohibits occupying a camp vehicle on a street for more than 30 minutes between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Do not interpret that older clause as 30 minutes of permitted sleeping: the broader town-property ban also applies. Wastewater or holding-tank material may not be deposited on streets, lots or other property. Private storage, guest occupancy and approved service connections need separate zoning and utility confirmation.
Who to contact for your setup
Ask West Yellowstone 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 West Yellowstone 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 Yellowstone Code Chapter 10.08
Public-property sleeping prohibition, street duration, signs and maintenance removal.
- West Yellowstone Code Chapter 8.12
Older overnight clause and sanitation prohibition; read together with broader Chapter 10.08.
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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