Quick answer: There is no single statewide answer. It depends on the city or county, the parcel's frontage and yard, any HOA documents, and the vehicle's registration. Port St. Lucie's code compliance page says recreational vehicles and boats registered as such may not be parked on the front or in the swale, and unincorporated St. Lucie County requires a concrete pad for front parking. State law limits many HOA bans on items not visible from the street, but it does not address driveway parking. Confirm the rules for the specific address in writing before you move.
Many people moving to Florida want to keep an RV or boat at home. The honest answer is that parking is a local and private question. The city or county sets the street-facing rules, the HOA documents may add more, and state law covers registration and some HOA restrictions. This article explains each layer, and what I could and could not confirm from the sources.
Port St. Lucie
The City of Port St. Lucie's code compliance page cites Section 73.04(B), which lists motor homes, recreational vehicles, campers, travel trailers and boats among vehicles that are prohibited from being parked on the front and/or in the swale. The page also cites Section 72.01(H), which bars parking on the wide part of the front lawn, and Section 72.03(B), which bars commercial vehicles in residential areas except while working at a job site. The page does not address driveways, side yards, screening or time limits. Some third-party sites say driveway parking is allowed. I could not confirm that from the city's code, because the full chapter did not load in my research. Ask the city for the rule that applies to your specific lot before you rely on any driveway.
Unincorporated St. Lucie County
St. Lucie County's common code violations page, citing Land Development Code Section 8.00.03(F), says a property may have no more than two vehicles unless it is larger than one acre. Boats, trailers and RVs parked in front must sit on a concrete pad, and only one vehicle may be in the front area. The page also says vehicles over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, or with dual axles, may not be parked in a residential zone under Section 7.10.14. The page does not address screening, time limits or side yards. For questions, the county's building department lists (772) 462-1553.
Palm Beach County, for comparison
If you are considering Palm Beach County, its residential property maintenance brochure, revised in November 2024, says boats, trailers, campers and recreational vehicles may be stored in the side or rear yard and must be screened with an opaque wall, fence or hedge at least six feet high. The brochure cites no code section, and I found that its wording on setbacks differs among extractions. Check the county's Unified Land Development Code directly before you rely on a particular yard.
HOA documents and state law
Florida's HOA statute says that, regardless of an association's covenants, rules or requirements, and unless general law or a local ordinance prohibits it, an association may not restrict owners or their tenants from installing, displaying or storing items on a parcel that are not visible from the parcel's frontage, an adjacent parcel, an adjacent common area or a community golf course. The statute lists boats and recreational vehicles among those items (s. 720.3045). Two points matter. The local-ordinance exception means the statute does not override every local limit. And the statute does not address driveway parking, so the answer for a particular driveway depends on the HOA documents and local law. Whether the statute applies to condominium associations under Chapter 718 is a question I did not resolve.
Registration
Florida vessel registration is governed by s. 328.72. Exemptions and fees depend on the vessel, so confirm the requirements with the state before you move the boat. For motor homes and RVs, the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles general registration page does not address those vehicles directly, and it lists (850) 617-2000 for RV questions. Registration cannot be issued if the department cannot verify insurance, so keep your coverage documents ready.
Insurance
The state's consumer guide to homeowners policy endorsements does not address boats, watercraft, RVs or trailers, and it advises asking your agent about endorsements. If you store a boat or RV at home, ask your agent for the written endorsement language that applies to the vehicle, the location and the use.
Before you buy or move
Before you commit to a home for a boat or RV, check four things in writing: the city or county rule for the parcel, the HOA documents for any items-on-the-property restriction, the yard layout (side, rear, driveway or front), and your insurer's endorsement language. I do not promise RV or boat parking for any listing. Florida's real estate advertising rules prohibit false or misleading claims (s. 475.25), and parking eligibility depends on the specific property and its rules.
Questions buyers ask about RV and boat parking
Can I park an RV in my Port St. Lucie driveway?
Not confirmed. The city's code compliance page bars front and swale parking for these vehicles under Section 73.04(B). The driveway rule was not in the text I could read, so ask the city in writing before you rely on a driveway.
Can I keep a boat in the side yard in unincorporated St. Lucie County?
The county's common violations page states the front-pad rule but does not address side yards. Confirm the rule with the county building department at (772) 462-1553.
Can an HOA ban an RV in my driveway?
Section 720.3045 limits HOA restrictions on items that are not visible from the frontage or adjacent property, unless general law or a local ordinance prohibits storage. It does not address driveways, so the answer depends on the HOA documents and local law, and an HOA attorney should review them.
Do I have to register my boat?
Florida vessel registration is governed by s. 328.72. Confirm the requirements and any exemptions for your vessel with the state before you move it.
Does homeowners insurance cover a stored RV or boat?
The state's consumer guide does not say. Ask your agent for the written endorsement language that applies to the vehicle and the storage location.
Talk with William. Moving to Florida with an RV or boat? Send me the address you are considering. I will help you list the city or county rule, the HOA questions and the insurance questions to answer before you decide. Call or text (772) 800-2274 or send a message.
General information, not legal, insurance, tax or registration advice. Parking and storage rules are local and fact-specific, and HOA documents control where they apply. Refer questions to the local building or zoning office, to your insurance agent and, for covenants, to a Florida HOA attorney. Code and statute references are as reviewed on October 20, 2026. William Merchant, REALTOR®, RE/MAX Gold. Each RE/MAX office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Sources
- City of Port St. Lucie: Common residential code violations (Code Compliance)
- St. Lucie County: Common code violations
- Palm Beach County: Residential property maintenance brochure (November 2024)
- Florida Statutes 720.3045, Items not visible from the parcel (2025)
- Florida Statutes 328.72, Vessel registration fees (2025)
- Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles: Motor vehicle registrations
- Florida Department of Financial Services: Homeowners policy endorsements
- Florida Statutes 475.25, Discipline of real estate licensees (2025)
