Jurisdiction and research scope
Windham town limits only. Publisher edition July 14, 2026, full Chapter 185 definitions, permitting table and §185-15E read October 22, 2026. Passed Order 26-162, adopted September 8, 2026, states an October 9, 2026 effective date and changes nonconforming-structure review, parts of the use table and tree-removal permits; its complete eight-page text was read. DEP approval of that amendment was not separately certified. The ordinary private-campsite standards modeled here are unchanged by its text.
Research by Can I Park My RV?Official municipal sources; access limits shown belowEditorial standard
Windham RV parking at a glance
| Location or use | What to check |
|---|---|
| Area and approval | Town-confirmed existing-lot/30,000 sq ft shoreland density, with separate principal-use lot dimensions; clustered sites average 30,000 sq ft/site. |
| Siting | 100 ft from applicable pond/great-pond water; otherwise 75 ft from relevant water/stream/wetland; also 35 ft rear and 15 ft side lines. |
| Equipment | One RV per campsite; gravel pad allowed, permanent foundations and attached noncanopy structures restricted. |
| Annual placement | At most 120 days in the ordinary campsite route; longer placement needs residential-structure review. |
Which Windham private campsite is covered?
The shoreland private-campsite definition covers repeated camping by one group of at most ten people, separate from a commercial campground. Section 185-15E states one campsite per lot existing on the chapter’s effective date or 30,000 square feet of shoreland area, whichever is less; clustered sites use an average 30,000 square feet per campsite. Confirm the Town’s density determination and required CEO permit.
What water and property setbacks apply?
The private campsite must be at least 100 feet from a pond, great pond or river flowing to a pond/great pond, or 75 feet from other relevant water bodies, tributary streams or the mapped wetland edge. It also needs 35 feet to the rear property line and 15 feet to side property lines. A setback is measured from the legal reference point and complete campsite placement.
How many RVs and what attachments are allowed?
Only one RV may occupy a campsite. No permanent foundation is allowed except a gravel pad; no structure other than a canopy may be attached. The local RV definition requires tires on the ground and registration with the State Bureau of Motor Vehicles to remain a vehicle rather than a structure.
What if the lot already has a house or protected vegetation?
Provide the principal use or structure’s minimum lot dimensions separately from the campsite. Clearing for an RV, tent or shelter in the Resource Protection District is capped at 1,000 square feet. The September 2026 order also changes tree-removal permitting and some review authorities, so land disturbance needs its own current permit assessment.
What is the 120-day trigger?
Placement for more than 120 days per year triggers all residential-structure standards, including compliant subsurface wastewater disposal unless served by public sewage. Exactly 120 days does not trigger that particular greater-than threshold. This is a placement clock, not merely the number of nights slept.
Does a campsite answer clear a driveway, curb or utility plan?
No ordinary between-trips home storage, public-street clock, active-loading exception or utility connection is established by this shoreland review. The mapped zone, required approval, other current standards and exact utility proposal remain separate.
Who to contact for your setup
Ask the governing municipality about the exact address, equipment, activity and full proposed dates. For an approval route, retain the issued authorization and its conditions.
Use the Windham parking checker to organize the starting conditions. The checker cannot approve a parcel, a variance or an unverified exception.
Official sources reviewed October 22, 2026
- Windham §185-15E and §185-17 — private campsites and definitions
Publisher edition July 14, 2026. Full private-campsite clauses E(1)–(6), Chapter 185 permitting table, definitions, conflict and effectiveness provisions read October 22, 2026. This is Maine, not Windham, New Hampshire.
- Windham passed Order 26-162 — September 2026 shoreland amendment
Complete eight-page passed order and attached redline read October 22, 2026. Cover sheet states effective October 9, 2026; changes §§185-12,185-14 and 185-15Q. Separate DEP action not retrieved; no modeled campsite standard changed.
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 town determination may still be required. Read our research method.
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