Lawton, Oklahoma · RV, boat and trailer parking rules

Can You Park an RV or Boat at Your House in Lawton?

Q: How many days can I park my RV in my driveway in Lawton?

It depends on size. If your RV is over 8½ feet wide, 24 feet long or 11 feet tall, it can stay in a front yard or open side yard on a solid-sealed driveway for no more than 5 days in any 10-day period, and no more than 10 days in any 30. Under all three limits, there is no day limit on a solid-sealed driveway. (§15-5-503(D) and (E))

Q: What is the fine?

$100 for a first offense and $150 or more for each later offense, up to the maximum in Sec. 1-119 of the code. Each day, or any part of a day, is a separate offense. (§15-5-507)

Yes, with limits. Lawton draws the line at 8½ feet wide, 24 feet long or 11 feet tall. Here is what the city code says about your driveway, your yard and the street, in plain English.

Over the line: 5 days in any 10 in a front driveway
Behind a 5-foot solid fence, any size is allowed
Fines start at $100, and each day counts
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Check your rig Read the official text

A plain-English guide, not legal advice. The City of Lawton decides how the code applies to your property.

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Checked against the code on September 18, 2026. City of Lawton Code of Ordinances, Chapter 15, Article 15-5 (Supplement No. 2, Update 1).

Checked against the code Sept. 18, 2026 Source: Lawton Code, Article 15-5 No sign-up, no phone calls Questions? Text us

The short answer

Every rule turns on three numbers

8½ftwide. The city measures across the widest point, mirrors included.

24ftlong. Front-most to rear-most point, tongue and bumpers included.

11fttall. Ground to the top of the body.

Lawton’s parking code sorts every vehicle by size. A vehicle is “larger” if it is more than 8½ feet wide, 24 feet long or 11 feet tall. Go over any one of the three and the stricter rules apply. Stay within all three, and your RV, camper or boat trailer can be stored on a solid-sealed driveway like any other vehicle.

For a larger RV, that means: in a front yard or open side yard, no more than 5 days in any 10-day period. In a side or rear yard behind a solid fence at least 5 feet tall, any size. And never on grass or dirt. The rest of this page is the detail.

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How does the code apply to yours?

Enter your numbers and where it is parked. It follows the city code clause by clause and shows which section applies. Example numbers are filled in.

How the code applies

At a glance

The rules in one table

Sections are from Article 15-5 of the City of Lawton Code of Ordinances.

Situation	Verdict	What the code says	Section
At or under 8½ ft wide, 24 ft long and 11 ft tall, in a front, side or rear yard	Allowed	On a solid-sealed driveway. A gravel or chat driveway that already existed on June 14, 2005 can stay if it is well kept and no wider than 18 ft in total.	§503(D)
Over any one of those limits, in a front yard or open side yard	Limited	On a solid-sealed driveway, or the street next to it, for no more than 5 days in any 10-day period and no more than 10 days in any 30.	§503(E)
Any size, in a side or rear yard behind a solid fence at least 5 ft tall	Allowed	On a solid-sealed surface or at least 4 inches of well-kept gravel or chat, free of ruts, potholes, grass and weeds. The driveway outside the fence must be solid-sealed.	§503(G)
On the street, over the size limits	Not allowed	Except the 5-in-10 allowance above. A trailer with no engine only while hitched to a vehicle with one. It can’t block traffic, driveways, mailboxes, trash cans or hydrants.	§503(C), (E)
On grass, dirt or lawn	Not allowed	At any time, unless the code expressly allows it.	§503(L)
Within 12 ft of the road edge or curb, or across a sidewalk	Not allowed	No part of the vehicle.	§503(J)
Near a neighbor’s property line	Limited	At least 5 ft away in a side or rear yard, 2½ ft in a front yard, when the neighbor has a house.	§503(H)
How much of the yard can be paved for parking	Limited	The driveway plus extension can’t exceed 50% of the yard area.	§503(I)
Sleeping in it	Limited	7 days in any 30-day period, and no more than 30 days in any 12 months.	§503(N)
On an empty lot	Not allowed	Unless the lot is joined by deed to an occupied lot.	§503(K)

Measuring

Measure it the way the city does

This is where most people slip. A brochure length is often the box only. The city counts everything.

Length runs from the front-most to the rear-most point of any part of the rig. Height stops at the top of the body.

Length includes the bumpers, the trailer tongue, and any cargo, equipment or object attached or mounted on it while it is parked. That means a rear bike rack, a spare tire mount or a hitch cargo carrier. A trailer sold as “26 ft” can measure several feet more once you add the tongue.
Width includes the mirrors and anything mounted to the sides.
Height is ground to the highest point of the body. A ladder, cargo rack or A/C unit does not count, as long as together they cover no more than 40% of the roof.

The number people quote

Five days in any ten

For an RV over the size limits, the front driveway is a short-stay spot, not a home. The code allows it there, or in the street next to it, for no more than 5 days in any 10-day period and no more than 10 days in any 30-day period.

That is enough to load up, wash it and head out for a weekend. It is not enough to leave it parked between trips.

Example: the most the code allows in a month. 5 days parked, 5 off, 5 parked again, then off for the rest of the month.

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Parked in the front driveway Somewhere else

Space and setbacks

The 12-foot rule, and the ones that go with it

A driveway can be legal on paper and still put a long rig too close to the street.

No part of a stored or parked vehicle may be within 12 feet of the edge of the roadway or the face of the curb, or across a sidewalk.

Property lines. Keep vehicles at least 5 feet from the line in a side or rear yard, and 2½ feet in a front yard, when the neighbor has a house.
Paved area. The driveway plus any extension can’t cover more than half of the yard.
Sidewalks. Never parked on or across one.

Travel trailer parked on a gravel pad behind a solid wooden privacy fence — Illustration of a screened side yard: solid fence, clean gravel, sealed driveway outside the gate.

The way to keep a big rig at home

Behind a solid fence, any size is allowed

The code lets any vehicle, of any size, sit in a side or rear yard that is screened by an opaque fence at least 5 feet tall.

Surface. Solid-sealed (concrete, asphalt, pavers, brick), or at least 4 inches of load-bearing gravel or chat.
Upkeep. Free of ruts and potholes, and clear of grass and weeds.
The driveway in. Same surface, and any part outside the fence must be solid-sealed.
Setbacks. 5 feet from a neighbor’s property line.

The permit question

There is a free permit. You probably can’t get one.

Section 15-5-503(F) lets a large RV stay in the front or open side yard longer, with a free permit and a site plan. It is narrow by design.

Who. Only property owners and other people living at the property on the date the ordinance took effect.
The pad. It had to be solid-sealed before that date, or a building permit obtained within 90 days after it.
Transfer. None. It lasts only while the permit holder owns the property.
Conditions. The city can require screening or other changes.

If you bought or moved in later, assume it is not available, and ask the City of Lawton before you rely on it.

If you get caught

What actually happens

Enforcement is written to warn first.

Day 0
A Notice of Violation goes on the vehicle
Before any citation, the city posts a notice on the offending vehicle.
72 hours
Move it, or get cited
If it has not been moved after 72 hours, a citation can be issued.
Next time
No second warning
For later violations at the same address, the city does not have to post a notice first.
The penalty
$100, then $150 or more
$100 for a first offense, and $150 or more for each later one, up to the maximum in Sec. 1-119. Each day, or any part of a day, is a separate offense.

Your HOA is separate. The city’s code does not override stricter covenants, plat restrictions or deed restrictions. You can follow the city rule and still break your HOA’s.

Straight from the source

The official text

These are the exact words of the provisions people ask about most. The full article is on the City of Lawton’s code site.

“Recreational vehicles larger than eight and one-half (8½) feet in width, twenty-four (24) feet in length or eleven (11) feet in height may be parked in the front yard area and unscreened portions of the side yard area on a driveway that is constructed of a solid sealed surface, as defined in this article, or in the street adjacent to said yard areas for no more than five (5) days in any ten-day period, but not exceeding ten (10) days in any 30-day period.”§15-5-503(E)

“Vehicles, including trailers, regardless of size may be stored or parked within areas of the rear and side yards that are screened by an opaque fence with a minimum height of five (5) feet, provided that they are stored or parked on a solid-sealed surface as defined in this article or a minimum of four (4) inches of a load-bearing, non-dust-producing surface such as chat or gravel that has been maintained in a sound condition free of ruts and potholes and kept clear of grass or weeds.”§15-5-503(G)

“The length of the vehicle shall be measured from the front most point of any part or appurtenance of the vehicle to the rearmost point of any part or appurtenance of the vehicle, to include the bumpers, the tongue of a trailer, or any cargo, equipment, or other object attached, loaded or mounted upon the vehicle while it is parked.”§15-5-503(B)(1)

“‘Recreational vehicle’ means any vehicle used primarily for recreational purposes, including but not limited to: motor homes; campers; travel trailers; fifth-wheel trailers; trailers carrying boats, other watercraft, and off-road vehicles; and any other similar vehicles.”§15-5-501(A)(2)

“‘Solid-sealed surface’ means a surface that is maintained free of grass and weeds, covers the entire area beneath a vehicle, and is constructed of one of the following: concrete, asphalt, paving stone, brick or other similar load bearing material approved by the director of community services.”§15-5-501(A)(3)

Read Chapter 15 on the City of Lawton code site

Last checked September 18, 2026 against Supplement No. 2, Update 1 (online content updated June 2, 2026). Codes change, so confirm with the City of Lawton before you act. We are a storage company, not lawyers, and this page is not legal advice.

If it does not fit at home

Need somewhere else to put it?

Plenty of Lawton owners keep their RV or boat off their street entirely. Our 37th Street lot has fenced, gated outdoor spaces from 10×20 to 10×40, from $49 a month, month-to-month, with your rate locked for 24 months.

See parking spaces RV storage Boat storage

Parking rules questions

Straight answers about Lawton’s RV parking rules

How many days can I park my RV in my driveway in Lawton?

It depends on size. If your RV is over 8½ feet wide, 24 feet long or 11 feet tall, it can stay in a front yard or open side yard on a solid-sealed driveway for no more than 5 days in any 10-day period, and no more than 10 days in any 30. Under all three limits, there is no day limit on a solid-sealed driveway. (§15-5-503(D) and (E))

Does the 24-foot limit include the trailer tongue?

Yes. The city measures length from the front-most point of any part of the vehicle to the rear-most point, including bumpers, the tongue of a trailer, and any cargo, equipment or object mounted on it. Bike racks, spare tires and cargo carriers count. Width includes the mirrors. (§15-5-503(B))

Are boats and boat trailers covered?

Yes. Lawton defines a recreational vehicle to include motor homes, campers, travel trailers, fifth-wheel trailers, and trailers carrying boats, other watercraft and off-road vehicles. (§15-5-501)

Can I park an RV in my backyard?

Yes, any size, if it is in a side or rear yard screened by a solid (opaque) fence at least 5 feet tall and sits on a solid-sealed surface or at least 4 inches of well-kept gravel or chat. Never on grass or dirt. The driveway outside the fence must be solid-sealed. (§15-5-503(G))

Can I park an RV on the street in front of my house?

Not for long. Nothing over the size limits can be stored or parked on a local street, except that an RV may use the street next to your front or side yard for the same 5-days-in-10 allowance. A trailer with no engine can only be on the street while hitched to a vehicle that has one. (§15-5-503(C) and (E))

Can I sleep in my RV in my driveway?

Only briefly. Sleeping in a vehicle is limited to 7 days in any 30-day period and no more than 30 days in any 12 months, and the vehicle must otherwise be parked legally. (§15-5-503(N))

Can I get a permit to keep it longer?

Probably not. The code has a free permit for a large RV in the front or open side yard, but only owners and residents who were at the property when the ordinance took effect qualify, the pad had to be solid-sealed before then (or a building permit obtained within 90 days), and it can’t transfer to a new owner. Ask the City of Lawton if you qualify. (§15-5-503(F))

What is the fine?

$100 for a first offense and $150 or more for each later offense, up to the maximum in Sec. 1-119 of the code. Each day, or any part of a day, is a separate offense. (§15-5-507)

Will I get a warning first?

Yes, the first time. The city posts a Notice of Violation on the vehicle, and if it has not been moved after 72 hours, a citation can be issued. For later violations at the same address, no notice is required. (§15-5-506(B))

Does my HOA matter?

Yes. The city’s code does not override stricter covenants, plat restrictions or deed restrictions, so your HOA can be tougher than the city. Check both. (§15-5-506(A))

Do these rules apply everywhere in Lawton?

They apply to one- and two-family neighborhoods and zoning districts. Commercial vehicles have separate provisions, and other zoning districts differ. If you are unsure, ask the City of Lawton. (§15-5-503(A))

Where can I keep my RV if I can’t at home?

Off-site storage. Our 37th Street lot has fenced, gated outdoor spaces from 10×20 to 10×40, from $49 a month. See RV storage or boat storage.

Rather not risk a citation?

Park it in a fenced, gated space from $49 a month, and stop counting days.

See parking spaces

Not sure it fits? Call (580) 265-5708 or text us your rig and we will tell you.