Not in Delaware, OH. A zoning ordinance that is in its final stages would prohibit using an RV parked on your property as living space - meaning sleeping in it - for more than 14 days in 365. Sometimes an RV can come in handy as a spare bedroom for guests. As long as your neighbors aren't keeping track in Delaware, OH, you could do so. If a neighbor files a complaint, you will be out of luck.
I always wonder in these cases what triggered the town to add this amendment to the law. Was someone living in an RV on their neighbor's property so they complained? I could see how it could get out of hand if you had a family using your RV for their dwelling, but how often does that happen? This wasn't the result of the derecho storm that struck OH and other places back East since they have been working on this for some time.
More communities seem bound and determined to keep RVers out of their RVs unless they are in a park. Is it jealousy- RVers beating the system? the Nanny State, as some would put it? What do you think? Jaimie Hall Bruzenak
And it's not just RVs, Jamie. Many mobile home owners in parks here in San Diego (probably more places as well)are not supposed to have guests IN THEIR OWN HOMES for more than 30 days in a year. One woman asked, "then why did I buy a home with two bedrooms?"
Posted by: Chris Smith | July 10, 2012 at 05:20 AM
I am glad we live in a non-HOA neighborhood (rare in our town) so I can park the RV in our driveway.
In days past, one reason folks would keep moving towards the frontier was that it was a place with few rules..they were free to live however they wanted to.
In "civilization", rules just multiply with time. Good and bad.
Posted by: Mike | July 10, 2012 at 05:45 AM
Rules, rules, rules. Good way to put it, Mike. I'd have to agree. Now, where do we move- except and RV. And, like gypsies, got to keep moving. It's amazing, Chris. To have the extra person, you probably have to put them on the lease and pay more rent.
Jaimie
Posted by: Jaimie Hall Bruzenak | July 10, 2012 at 06:42 AM
I can understand to some extent what they may be trying to do (poorly)We have some (not alot) of the homeless folks that have bought really old motor homes and park on streets o parking lots or at friends homes. We live in a modular home park (they changed the name long ago from (Mobile) and yes we can't even park our RV on our lot and we have rules about guests staying with us for more than 2 weeks at a time. My biggest consern is if I needed to have someone move in to care for us, we would have to ask for special "OK". Nyla
Posted by: Nyla Walsh | July 10, 2012 at 08:23 AM
I can understand regulating people living in RVs on the street and parking lots- sanitation. Where do they dump? And, to some extent people actually living in an RV on someone's property for the same reasons. And a collection in a neighborhood could affect appearances. If your RV is in the back part of your property city councils should not have a say.
I can understand your concern. Friends in a mobile park used to be able to add a long term guest to the lease. Now they will have to pay extra. A caretaker should not cost more or require an OK, in my opinion.
Jaimie
Posted by: Jaimie Hall Bruzenak | July 10, 2012 at 09:28 AM
I think there are reasons for these rules, if you have people actually living in your RV parked in your yard it starts to look like a trailer park very fast, usually people do not have a way to empty their black water tank so that is a sanitary issue. In our neighborhood you cannot store your RV in your yard if it is larger than 29 ft and you cannot live in it but do not have a limit that I know of for company to stay etc.
Posted by: Sandie | July 13, 2012 at 05:09 PM
I'm sure you are correct, Sandie. Often these laws are written because someone abused it. Thanks for joining in!
Jaimie
Posted by: Jaimie Hall Bruzenak | July 13, 2012 at 09:01 PM