Can I park an RV or boat at my house under HOA rules?

Often not in the driveway, and often not for long. Many recorded declarations allow an RV, boat or trailer only inside a garage or behind a fence, and some allow it in the open for a short loading period, such as 48 or 72 hours. A few ban them from the lot. The exact rule is in the vehicle or parking clause of the recorded declaration.

What a declaration usually says

The rule takes three forms. A screening rule: the vehicle may stay if it is out of view from the street, usually in a garage or behind a fence of a set height. A time rule: the vehicle may sit in the open for a stated number of hours or days. A ban: no recreational vehicle, boat, trailer or camper on the lot at all. Some declarations also cover commercial vehicles and inoperable cars.

In the covenants Setback has read, as of October 19, 2026, 414 of 1,258 recorded documents address RV or boat parking.

What to check before you buy

1. Read the parking and vehicle clause for the parcel, and any amendment that changed it.
2. Measure the garage and the side yard against the vehicle. A screening rule only helps if the vehicle fits.
3. Check the city code too; many cities limit RV parking on streets and in front yards on their own.

Where the law comes in

A parking rule in a recorded declaration is a private covenant and binds the lot. A board can usually adopt detail by rule, such as the loading period, when the declaration gives it that power under chapter 64.90 RCW.