Where to Store the RV (and the House) While You're Away

A part-time RVer has two things to store: the rig for the months at home, and the house for the months away. Both are governed by local rules and local prices, and both are easy to overlook until the first season.

Storing the RV at home

Whether you can park an RV at your house is decided by the city or county zoning code and, if applicable, the HOA.

• Municipal codes commonly restrict RV parking in residential zones: banned on the street beyond a few days, allowed only in a side or rear yard, behind a fence or screen, or on a paved pad. Some limit the vehicle's length or prohibit living in it while parked.
• HOA covenants are often stricter, prohibiting RVs from being visible from the street at all, or entirely.
• Unincorporated county land is frequently more permissive than incorporated cities, which is one reason RVers look at county property outside town limits.

Before buying a house, read the zoning code section on recreational vehicles and the HOA's covenants. If you already own the house, check before buying the RV.

Storing the RV off-site

If home storage isn't allowed, the options are:

• Open lot — cheapest, exposed to sun and weather.
• Covered — a roof, moderate price.
• Enclosed or indoor — most expensive, best protection, sometimes climate-controlled.

Monthly rates vary by region and by rig length; larger rigs cost more, and indoor storage near metro areas can cost several hundred dollars a month. Seven months of storage is a real line in the budget. Ask about security, access hours, and whether you can run a battery tender or keep the rig plugged in.

Storing the house

Leaving a house for five months is the same problem snowbirds face, with the same solutions:

• Insurance. Tell the insurer; the home may need a seasonal endorsement, and the policy may require heat maintained, water shut off, and regular inspections. See our article on insuring a home you're not living in.
• Winterization in cold climates, or humidity control in warm ones.
• A local person to check in, forward mail, and handle surprises.
• Yard and exterior maintenance so the home doesn't advertise its emptiness.
• Security: monitored alarms, cameras, lights on timers, and notifying the local police if they offer vacation checks.
• Mail: USPS hold is limited in duration; a forwarding service or a trusted neighbor is the usual answer for a long absence.

What this means for choosing a home base

• Prefer a county and neighborhood where you can legally store the RV at home; it saves storage fees and simplifies departures.
• If not, price nearby storage before you buy.
• Confirm the insurer's seasonal absence terms for the house address.

The bottom line

RV parking and vacant-home rules are set by the city, county, and HOA, and storage prices by the local market. Check both before you commit to the house or the rig.

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Educational information, not legal or insurance advice.