We are new to this - RV's. About a month ago purchased an '04 R Vision Travel Lite, 27 foot. My daughter and her fiance' will be married in May and will live full time in our back yard for about 3 years. They plan to work as RN's, save money and then put down on a home. We like the idea, and we certainly don't mind helping them out their first few years. Just wanted to introduce myself. I'm glad I found this forum - tons of info here!

Congrats Be safe and check zoning law on having someone live in an RV in A residential area.

All is well, thank you, rvten! :)The couple will use facilities in the house in effort to not be constantly emptying the gray and black water tanks. The TT is hooked up to well water too, not city. They like hanging out with the folks, so they'll be in the house 90% of the time.

That is all nice, @ButchandBri, but it is still important that you check with the authorities. All that is required to make this arrangement really stink is hours in court trying to get out of hefty fines because the zoning laws in your county don't allow it and a neighbor who doesn't like you complained.Assuming that there is no problem there, it ought to give them a good boost toward that first home, and bravo for your willingness to help them out this way.

Be sure to check it out with the proper authorities. I had a friend that tried the same thing you are planning and within 3 days the zoning folks showed up at his door and put a screeching halt to that plan. (Somebody reported it). Just be sure ahead of time to avoid having to make fast plan changes.

I wouldn't plan on getting away with this for 3 years.

Full Timing Married Couple in the Back Yard | Good Sam Community

ButchandBri
Explorer
Mar 09, 2014
Campigloo, it's not hooked up to a permanent septic system, but we do empty it routinely.

galtgirl, that really sounds like an awesome opportunity for nurses that live travel. I'll mention that to them - thanks!
Aridon
Explorer
Mar 09, 2014
Awesome that you are helping them out. Good luck to all of you.
galtgirl
Explorer
Mar 09, 2014
Slightly off topic, but since they are both RN's, they should consider travel nursing. You can make a ton of money and literally all your living expenses are covered by your contract. They should buy a tow vehicle and live in the RV when working on the road. It's a great way for a young couple to see the country and be able to save a lot of money toward the purchase of a permanent home. Just sayin!!!
bjcarpetguy
Explorer
Dec 07, 2013
We had issues a couple years back. We were staying at my DW's Uncles and got a letter from county it was a no no. We figured the reason was they had another family member here the year before and caused all kinds of problems including law
enforcement on a regular basis.

Came back last year and we parked in back yard for 6months no issues. Are here again and have been parked on the side of their home since April with no problem.
However that might be because I remodeled their home inside and out.
DianneOK
Explorer
Dec 06, 2013
Sounds like a playhouse in the backyard to me :)
2oldman
Explorer II
Dec 06, 2013
They'll be fulltiming in the house.
ButchandBri
Explorer
Dec 06, 2013
We did our research and can't find anything on zoning regarding RV's for our area, other than for people that live in gated communities with HOA rules.

The TT is in the back yard. If there are any that want to start trouble, they'd have to search it out. Although I say the couple will be full timing, technically they are not, because as stated before, they are in the house 90% of the time. The TT will be for sleeping over night and a good place for their nursing studies. What is true is the TT is hooked up to well water and electricity. In that sense, the TT itself is full timing.

Thank you for the welcome, the encouragement and advice. All graciously accepted :)
lgarcia
Explorer
Dec 06, 2013
Pretty common where I live. We are on a riverbank out in the country, so travel trailers and motor homes are set up on the banks in private yards like ours as well as in small mom and pop campgrounds & river lots. No one seems to be keeping score on the number of overnights.

I have a neighbor who inherited a small house, set his elderly mother up in the house, and he is in the driveway in a TT. They each have their own "space", yet he can keep an eye on her to make sure she is ok.

DD lives 2 hours away and also out in the country. I bought my TT with an eye towards a permanent setup down the road in my daughter's yard once I retire, so I can have my house here and a place to stay there for extended visits.

Good for the OP to help out his kids.
LewBob
Explorer
Dec 05, 2013
There are pluses and minuses to zoning regulations. But I, for one, relish living in a rural area with no zoning ordinances/restrictions whatsoever. Some do take advantage of the situation, but I don't think I could relocate to an area where to powers that be would impose their standards on my lifestyle.

Welcome to the forum, ButchandBri. I hope your plans work out just fine for you and the newlyweds to be.
calamus
Explorer
Dec 05, 2013
We had friends of ours live in our back yard for 6 months after they sold their house and built a new one. I wired an outlet for them to plug in, a garden hose from house and we tied the sewer into a clean out on the outside of the house. We hooked up a garden hose to the grey water and dumped that on the 3 apple trees in the back yard (best growth ever that summer), Good luck proving that anyone is living in the camper. Sometimes people act like this is not a free country anymore. When we lived in town ours sat hooked up all the time and company stayed in it all the time with no issues,as long as it is not on blocks with pink flamingos in the yard! And for the rest of you I think the OP has gotten the point of the county and zoning!