Skip to main content
Bellevue home
  • Bellevue Home
  • City Government
    • Boards, Commissions and Committees
    • City Code, Resolutions and Ordinances
    • City Council
    • Communications
    • Departments
    • East Bellevue Community Council
    • Hot Topics and Initiatives
    • Public Records Requests
    • Sister Cities
  • Departments
    • City Attorney's Office
    • City Clerk's Office
    • City Manager's Office
    • Communications
    • Community Development
    • Development Services
    • Emergency Management
    • Finance & Asset Management
    • Fire
    • Human Resources
    • Information Technology
    • Parks & Community Services
    • Police
    • Transportation
    • Utilities
  • Discover Bellevue
    • About Us
    • Bellevue Television
    • City News
    • Things to Do
    • Arts in Bellevue
    • Parks and Trails
    • Economic Development
  • Doing Business
    • Building and Zoning
    • Doing Business in Bellevue
    • Doing Business with Bellevue
  • Public Safety
    • Police
    • Fire
    • Emergencies and Extreme Weather
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Municipal Court
    • Neighborhood Traffic Safety
    • Probation
    • Public Defenders
  • Resident Resources
    • ADA and Language Access Resources
    • Customer Assistance
    • Conflict Assistance
    • Diversity Advantage
    • Neighborhoods
    • Newcomers Guide
    • Permits, Parking and Utilities
    • Volunteering
    • Local Service Agencies
City of Bellevue, WA Development Services
English Español 简体中文 繁體中文 日本語 한국어 Pусский Tiếng Việt

RV Storage and Screening

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. City Government
  3. Departments
  4. Development Services
  5. Land Use Development
  6. Zoning Requirements
spg-dist-dt-bell.JPG

How may I help you?

This is an artificial-intelligence (AI) chatbot designed to provide general information about various city topics. If you are having an emergency of any kind, please call 911 immediately. The chatbot is still learning about all of our services and may occasionally provide an incorrect answer.

Give Feedback
  • Copied to clipboard

    Zoning Requirements

    • Accessory Dwelling Units
    • Accessory Structures
    • Building Height
    • Building Setbacks
    • Fences
    • Floor Area Ratio
    • Home Occupations
    • Landscape Development
    • Mechanical Equipment
    • Parking Development
    • RV Storage and Screening
    • Rentals
    • Signs
    • Trees
      • Tree Removal
    Header Image
    spg-dist-dt-bell.JPG

    Certain storage and screening requirements have been established to balance the need to store these items with the need to reduce the aesthetic impacts of such storage on surrounding properties. 

    Residential Storage and Screening of Recreational Vehicles (RV), Watercraft and Trailers

    This information pertains to Land Use Code 20.20.720 for codes applicable to all areas in Bellevue.

    Can an RV, boat, or utility trailer be stored on a residential lot?

    Parking or storage of recreational vehicles, watercraft (whether mounted on trailers or un-mounted), or utility trailers is permitted in a residential (R-1 – R-30) land use district.

     

    image of locations for RV, boat, trailer storage

    What is considered a recreational vehicle?

    Any wheeled, motorized vehicle manufactured, converted or altered to provide self-contained temporary living quarters for recreational, camping or travel uses and which does not exceed 40 feet in length. Any vehicle manufactured, converted or altered which has integral wheels for towing or can be mounted on a motorized vehicle to provide self-contained, temporary living quarters for recreational, camping or travel uses.

    What is considered a watercraft?

    Any vessel used for water travel, sport or pleasure which is greater than 12 feet in length but does not exceed 40’feet in length or 12 feet in height, as measured at the highest point when mounted on a trailer.

    What is considered a utility trailer?

    Any vehicle with integral wheels designed to be towed by a motorized vehicle to transport goods, property, equipment or livestock.

    Are canoes and kayaks considered watercraft?

    They are watercraft. They are not required to be sight-screened from abutting properties if they are less than 12 feet in length.

    Is there a maximum size limit?

    Yes. An RV, watercraft or utility trailer over 40 feet in length is not permitted in any residential land use district.

     

    image of vehicle size limits

    Where can these be stored, and what screening must be provided?

    The easiest ways to store these are as follows:

    • In a vented garage
    • In a carport, provided it is screened by solid board fencing or sight-obscuring landscaping at least six feet in height
    • In a side or rear yard, provided it meets setback requirements applicable to accessory structures (typically 5 feet) and is screened by solid board fencing or sight-obscuring landscaping at least six feet in height

     

     

    image of front-yard storage beyond front-yard setback

     

    image of front-yard storage within front-yard setback

     

    image of site screening with solid board fencing and boat

     

    image of site screening fence optional with RV

     

    Is storage in the front yard, between the house and road, allowed?

    If there is no reasonable access to a rear or side yard, one licensed and operable RV, watercraft or utility trailer not exceeding 28 feet in length may be located in the front yard one of two ways as follows:

    1. Outside the front setback
      • It is located outside of the front setback required for the zone.
      • It is parked in the driveway, perpendicular to the right-of-way
      • It is sight-screened from the closest abutting property by solid board fencing or sight obscuring landscaping at least six feet in height
    2. Within the front setback
      • It is located within the front setback required for the zone.
      • It is completely sight-screened from the right-of-way and the closest abutting property. The sight-screening must consist of plant material; however, a gate is permissible if necessary for maneuvering.

    Notes:

    • All sides of a property which abut a right-of-way are considered to be front yards.
    • Where there is an elevation difference between properties, a fence located along the property line does not necessarily meet the screening requirement.

    Screening and Slopes

     

    image of screening and slopes with RV

    Can an RV be used as a dwelling?

    One RV may be used as a temporary dwelling on a lot already containing another dwelling unit. It may be used for up to five days without a permit and up to 30 days upon issuance of a temporary use permit, subject to the following:

    • The permit must be affixed to the RV in a manner that it is prominently displayed and visible, to the extent possible, from a public right of way.
    • RVs allowed as a temporary dwelling may be parked within a front yard, need not be sight-screened, and need not comply with accessory structure setback requirements for the effective period of the permit.
    • No more than one temporary use permit may be granted within any three-month period.

    Are there exceptions to the storage and screening requirements?

    • During loading and unloading of an RV, watercraft or utility trailer, the requirements do not apply, provided that the loading/unloading is completed within a three-day period within any two-week period.
    • During temporary use of an RV as a dwelling, the screening and setback requirements do not apply.
    • Vehicles with camper shells and watercraft moored over water are exempt from the requirements.

    Are there allowances for qualified disabled RV owners?

    Yes. One RV per residence is exempt from the location and screening requirements if at least one occupant of the residence has a current windshield placard or special license plate issued to him/her by the State of Washington as a qualified disabled person in accordance with RCW 46.16.381. Persons claiming this exemption must apply to the Director of Development Services for approval.

    What if I want to store it closer to the property line?

    An RV, watercraft, or utility trailer can be located up to the side or rear property line if a written mutual agreement of the affected abutting property owners is recorded and other requirements are met. See Land Use Code (LUC) 20.20.125

    What type of plant materials are acceptable?

    Plants that are well-foliaged from the ground up and can provide a dense screen. Remember that plant spacing, height at time of planting, and ongoing care and maintenance are necessary considerations.

    Is charging others a fee for storage allowed?

    No. Storage of RVs, watercraft or trailers for compensation is not permitted in a residential land use district. Storage facilities provided exclusively for tenants of multifamily dwelling complexes are allowed.

    Where can I get additional information?

    • LUC 20.20.720 Recreational Vehicles, Watercraft, and Utility Trailers
    • LUC 20.30M Temporary Use Permit

    Development Services

    Land Use
    Telephone
    425-452-4188
    Hearing Impaired
    711
    Email
    landusereview@bellevuewa.gov

    Reasonable Accommodation

    For alternate formats, interpreters, or reasonable modification requests please phone at least 48 hours in advance 425-452-6800 (voice) or email servicefirst@bellevuewa.gov. For complaints regarding modifications, contact the City of Bellevue ADA, Title VI, and Equal Opportunity Officer at ADATitleVI@bellevuewa.gov.

    City of Bellevue sealCity of Bellevue, WA

    • 450 110th Avenue NE
    • Bellevue, WA 98004
    • Directions to City Hall
    • 425-452-6800
    • servicefirst@bellevuewa.gov
    • Contact Us / City Directory
    • Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

    Footer Menu Contacts

    • MyBellevue Customer Assistance
    • Careers
    • ADA/Title VI Notices

    Languages

    • English
    • Español
    • 简体中文
    • 繁體中文
    • 日本語
    • 한국어
    • Pусский
    • Tiếng Việt

    Request a Translation

    • Request a Translation
    • اطلب ترجمة
    • 申请翻译
    • 要求翻譯
    • अनुवाद का अनुरोध करें
    • 翻訳をリクエストする
    • 번역 요청
    • درخواست ترجمه
    • ਅਨੁਵਾਦ ਦੀ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਕਰੋ
    • Запрос на перевод
    • Solicitud de traducción
    • అనువాదం అడగండి
    • ترجمےکے لئے ایک درخواست
    • Yêu cầu bản dịch
    • ትርጉም መጠየቅ

    Social Media

    © 2024 City of Bellevue | All Rights Reserved. | ADA/Title VI Notices | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Site Map