HOA topic guide
What can my HOA say about parking, RVs, and commercial vehicles?
Parking disputes rank among the most frequent HOA complaints. The authority to regulate parking derives from the Declaration's grant of power over common areas and, in planned communities, from easements over private streets. Restrictions may cover which spaces owners may use, what categories of vehicles are permitted, how long vehicles may be parked without moving, and what constitutes a nuisance vehicle. Commercial vehicles are frequently prohibited in residential driveways even when state law allows them on public streets. If your CC&Rs are silent on a specific vehicle type, boards often attempt to fill the gap through Rules & Regulations — but those rules are only as enforceable as the Declaration's authorization to adopt them.
What most CC&Rs say
Most declarations assign each unit designated parking spaces and prohibit use of others' assigned spots. Commercial vehicles — typically defined as vehicles bearing logos, ladders, or equipment racks — are prohibited from overnight parking. RVs, boats, and trailers are usually barred from driveways and common parking areas except for short loading/unloading windows (24-48 hours). Inoperable vehicles must often be stored in enclosed garages. Guest parking is commonly limited to 24-72 consecutive hours. Many documents empower the association to tow vehicles at the owner's expense after written notice.
Every HOA's governing documents differ. The patterns above reflect common drafting conventions — your CC&Rs may be more or less restrictive.
Real answers from real HOAs
See all →State-specific examples
Coming soon
State-by-state breakdowns for this topic are on the roadmap. Check back, or browse real HOA answers above.
Ask your own HOA
What do your CC&Rs say?
Upload your governing documents and get instant, cited answers from your specific CC&Rs — every section reference links back to the exact page. Free forever for boards under 250 homes.
Run an HOA? Free for boards under 250 homes.
Ask unlimited bylaw questions, manage violations, and share cited answers with your residents — no credit card required.