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Living in an RV full-time comes with lots of responsibility but incredible opportunities.
If you’re able and willing to take on that responsibility, you have a lifetime of incredible experiences– and the memories that come with it– ahead of you.
However, if you’re considering living in an RV full-time, you might be wondering a few things. Such as:
- Can an RV be your permanent residence (technically, in the eyes of the law)
- If so, where is that allowed and where is it not?
- And can you live in an RV park permanently, or at least long-term?
Below, we’ll dive into the topic of living full-time in your RV within an RV park.
By the end, you should have a clear idea of what is legal and possible and how you’d prefer to live full-time in your RV.
First, let’s start with the most immediate question then work our way down:
Can You Live In an RV Permanently (and Legally)?
Yes, in many states you can live in an RV permanently and it is fully within the law, and long-term RV parks do exist.
In fact, most states are friendly to full-time RVers– but not all.
Those states that do allow it typically require one or more of these to be fulfilled:
- Permit
- DMV registration
- And/Or abide by local hazard/nuisance laws
By far, these are the most common requirements from those states that allow you to live in your RV.
Every state is different, however, so it’s important to do your own research about the state you’re considering staying in before making the jump.
With that said, let’s talk about each of those common requirements a bit before moving on:
1. Permit
A permit provided by that state or the city/municipality if you’re staying long-term (how long “long-term” actually means is defined by that area’s local laws).
This isn’t as common as DMV registration in our research, but it is required more often than not. Fortunately, obtaining a permit in most cities/states is pretty easy so long as you’re willing to wait a bit.
2. DMV registration
The second of the three most common requirements, many states require you to register with that area’s DMV.
3. Health hazard and nuisance laws
Lastly, likely the most common requirement seen across the U.S. includes two points often mentioned together:
- Abiding by local health hazard laws
- And following nuisance laws
In other words, 1) you’re clean and 2) not loud/obstructive to your neighbors.
Keep in mind, however, that even if you abide by all of the above requirements (whichever applies to the state you’re staying in), this doesn’t technically count as a permanent residence for legal purposes such as schooling or setting up home internet service.
With that said, there are ways around both of those and living in an RV is fully within the law across much of the U.S.
RV Parks for Permanent Living: Can You Live In an RV Park Long-Term?
Yes, you can live in some RV parks permanently depending on the park and state it’s located.
However, the number of long-term campsites that allow permanent residence is rare and some states bar this by law.
Some RV parks allow very long-term stays, however, as much as 6 months or even longer at a time.
Most states only require a brief change of location, however, meaning you can go right back to the same park after a short while (often no more than a week) in another location.
I may sound like a broken record, but it’s important: Make sure to check what your chosen state’s local laws are as areas can differ vastly in their regulations and requirements.
We covered the general requirements that most states have earlier, but each state and municipality is managed a little bit differently. You can’t assume something that applies to one state will apply to another.
What States Allow You to Live In Your RV?
Now that you know it is possible to live in your RV
Many states allow you to live in your RV legally.
Most have one or more requirements, however (see the first section above), so you’ll need to make sure ahead of time what is required so that you ensure you’re following all necessary laws.
Here is a quick list of the states that allow you to live in your RV:
Some of the most RV-friendly states include:
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Texas
- Utah
- Wisconsin
For example, California has no laws against living in an RV full-time.
The only laws regarding living in an RV are health hazard and nuisance laws as stated earlier, which are easy enough to follow if you’re simply living your life like the average person.
However, some areas require permits as well.
In Oregon, you can freely live in your RV full-time with little restrictions, even on public land in one particular spot for up to 14 days without a permit so long as you’re not a nuisance.
In Georgia, Illinois, and Indiana are all very lax as well, just make sure to check the laws of the specific area you’re staying as they may have their own unique requirements.
Keep in mind that these aren’t the only states that allow you to live full-time in an RV, simply some of the RV-friendliest states.
For a state-by-state breakdown of legal requirements for those states that allow you to live in an RV, check out our full guide: What States Allow You to Live In an RV?.
The Campsite Matters Too (Look Up Campground Reviews)
One last note: think of the park or campsite itself as another layer you’ll want to research.
The state being level one, city/municipality being layer two, and public campgrounds or parks as layer three.
When deciding where you want to stay long-term, don’t just consider the state and city and call it a day. Look up reviews of local campgrounds to find one that seems like a good fit for you (like this example from RVLife.com):
Look for long-term RV sites that are friendly to, you guessed it, long-term residents.
The size is a big one as well. You want it to be a large RV park as there’s nothing worse than being parked in cramped spaces without enough space between RVs.
This is just scratching the surface, though. There are a lots of other amenities you’ll want to look for to decide if a particular park is right for you, including:
- Laundry facilities
- Full hookups
- Restaurant and/or snack bar
- Animal friendly (dog park section, etc), if you have furry friends
- Recreational activities (if it’s an RV resort) like a swimming pool and/or hot tub, golf course, live music, bike rentals, etc.
To find out more RV park amenities that are highly sought-after by other full-time RVers, check out our guide: 25 Best RV Park Amenities of 2024.
Also, take some time to learn the difference between an RV park and RV resort here: What Is An RV Park vs. RV Resort vs. RV Campground?.
Is One Type of RV Better for Full Time RV Living?
No, one type of RV isn’t better for full-time living vs. another.
What matters much more is what you need and want out of your RV.
A new RV may have a lot of great new features that make camping and living in your RV more comfortable, but if the payment is too high it will put pressure on your finances and peace of mind.
With that said there is one benefit to a particular type of RV to think about: If your goal is to stay at an RV park on a permanent basis, travel trailers or fifth wheels might be the best place to start shopping (assuming you have a vehicle that an tow one). You’ll be able to take advantage of the benefits of either without having to deal with the drawback of frequent towing to and from locations.
Is Living In an RV Park for You?
While it is possible to live in some RV parks permanently or very long-term, it may or may not be for you.
Consider what you want out of your RV travels and what kind of lifestyle you’d prefer to have when on the road (or not).
You may find that when you set out you were most interested in permanent campsites where you live year-round, you actually rather enjoy traveling around, checking out that new RV resort you found online or hopping between national parks / state parks.
The great thing about RVing is that you have the freedom to change that aspect of your lifestyle on a whim, trying one then the other to see what you prefer.
We hope the above guide helped you take the first step toward finding out what is possible with full-time RV living.
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