Congrats! You have an RV so you can freely travel in a safe set of wheels. The RV even comes with a small kitchen and bathroom so you can have your own private facilities. The RV is the start to an adventurous time when you can go wherever it can take you.
With the RV also comes a bit of responsibility. They are far larger than the average car. Where do you store your RV?
You will want to check with the city you live in before parking your RV in your driveway. Some have rules against parking a non-motorized recreational vehicle in the driveway. Be aware that some municipalities call travel trailers recreational vehicles. Others have limits about the length of your RV.
Check before you buy
In some ways, you might be better off asking your current city if there are any restrictions or limitations for parking an RV. Some cities will not allow an RV over 20 feet long to be parked in a driveway.
You are better off knowing about specific restrictions to RV ownership before buying an RV that’s too long for your city rules.
Homeowner’s Association’s
Your homeowner’s association might have tighter rules about RV placement than your city. Homeowner’s association also tend to keep a more watchful eye than the city.
While not every “HOA” has restrictions, these can include only being able to park your RV in your driveway at certain times of the year. Others only allow an RV in the driveway for 24 hours.
Slope
Check the slope of your driveway. Does it go downhill? Some modern RVs can be fairly low to the ground. You want to make sure you have enough clearance to get your RV into the driveway, especially if you up or downhill.
An up or downhill driveway risks you scraping the RV against the asphalt or pavement. This is not an especially common risk as most driveways aren’t too hilly, but it’s worth considering.
Other problems
Like a homeowner’s association, you might have picky neighbors who don’t want an RV parked nearby. Why? You’ll have to ask them.
Otherwise, RVs are a convenient place to park for charging the RV or maintaining it by yourself. On the other hand, you’ll also find yourself with less space in your driveway because the RV is bigger than a vehicle.
Final Thoughts
A lesson likely learned by someone who found out too late: Ask the city, police, and homeowner’s association first. Don’t find yourself stuck with a big RV that needs storage outside of your driveway for an additional fee.