Can You Live in an RV on Your Own Land?

This is one of the most common questions I get. "If I buy the land, can I live in my RV on it?"

The honest answer is, it depends. Some places say yes. Some say no. And a lot say "sort of." Let me explain how to find out before you buy.

Owning the land isn't the whole story

People figure that if they own it, they can do what they want. That's not always the case.

There are usually three layers of rules to check.

• Deed restrictions or covenants. These are rules recorded with the property. They often say whether RVs are allowed, and for how long.
• A POA or HOA. If the lot is in a community with an association, it may have its own rules on RVs.
• The county or city. Even with no restrictions, there may be local rules about living in an RV, septic, water and permits.

You need a yes from all three.

The common answers

Here are the kinds of answers you'll run into.

• RVs allowed with no limits. Common on unrestricted rural land.
• RVs allowed for a limited time. Some places allow camping or an RV for a set number of days.
• RVs allowed only while building. Some subdivisions allow an RV on the lot during construction of a home, then it has to go.
• No RVs at all. Common in subdivisions with minimum home sizes or site built home rules.

I talked about restrictions more in Restricted vs. Unrestricted Land.

Living vs camping

There's a difference between camping on your land for a weekend and living there full time. Some places are fine with one and not the other.

If you want to live in an RV full time, you'll also need to think about the basics. Where does the water come from? Where does the wastewater go? Most places want sewage handled properly, which usually means a septic system or a proper hookup. Power can come from the grid or from solar. Call the county and ask what's required for full time RV living on a lot.

On our owner financed lots, there's one more thing. You can start using the land once your first payment is in, but full time living starts once the balance is paid. Run any building plans by us first.

How to find out for a specific lot

Here's what I'd do before buying any lot where an RV matters to you.

• Read the listing. We say right on the page whether RVs and camping are allowed.
• Ask for the restrictions. Get the actual recorded restrictions or POA rules and read them.
• Call the county. Ask, "Can I live in an RV on a lot at this parcel number? What permits do I need?" Ask about septic too.
• Look at the neighbors. If there are RVs all over the area, that's a clue, but it's not proof. Some people break the rules.

A lot where RVs are not allowed

I'll give you an example of the other side. Our lot at 1102 Hickory in the Woodland subdivision in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas does not allow RVs or mobile homes. It's for site built homes, with a minimum of around 600 to 800 square feet. That's a good fit for someone who wants to build a small house in a neighborhood with homes already built nearby, not for someone who wants to park a camper.

It's about a third of an acre, with electricity available behind the lot and water available, and septic is needed. There's no HOA, and taxes are about $54 a year. It's walking distance to the Strawberry River and close to Pioneer, Crown and Diamond Lake. It's $3,000 cash, or $75 down plus the $249 doc fee, then $75 a month for 39 months. See it here.

The bottom line

If an RV is part of your plan, make that the first question you ask, not the last. Read the restrictions, call the county, and get your answers before you buy.

Questions on any of our lots? Call or text me at (817) 631-1858.

Jarod

Heads up. I'm not a lawyer, a Realtor, a title agent or a financial advisor. I'm just a guy who buys and sells a lot of land. This post is general information from my own experience, not legal, tax or financial advice. Every state, county and deal is different, so talk to a qualified professional about your situation before you make a decision.