If you've spent any time in Eagle Mountain neighborhood Facebook groups, you've seen this question come up over and over: "Can my HOA stop me from parking my RV (or boat, or trailer) in my own driveway?"
The answer got significantly more complicated — and more favorable for homeowners — in May 2025. Utah passed a major HOA reform law that limits what HOAs can restrict when it comes to driveway parking. But the city of Eagle Mountain also has its own ordinances that apply regardless of HOA rules. And your specific CC&Rs still matter.
Here's the full picture, with sources for every claim.
What Utah's 2025 HOA Law Actually Says
Utah's House Bill 217, effective May 7, 2025, significantly restricted what HOA boards can prohibit in your own driveway. Per Counsel Our HOA's analysis of HB 217:
Under the new law, an HOA board cannot — through a board-adopted rule alone — prohibit an owner from parking in their own driveway if the vehicle is otherwise legal to park there.
However, there are specific exceptions. An HOA board rule can still restrict driveway parking for:
- Commercial vehicles (as defined in Utah Code § 72-9-102)
- Motor homes (as defined in Utah Code § 13-20-2)
- Travel trailers
- Camping trailers
- Fifth wheel trailers
This is the critical nuance that changes everything for Eagle Mountain RV and boat owners. The law protects your right to park most vehicles in your driveway — but RVs, motor homes, travel trailers, fifth wheels, and camping trailers are explicitly carved out as vehicles an HOA can still restrict by rule.
Boats, utility trailers, and other non-recreational vehicles are not listed in the exceptions — which means an HOA board generally cannot prohibit those by rule alone, only through the CC&Rs.
The Real-World Case: Utah HOA Ombudsman Weighs In
This isn't theoretical. Utah's new Office of the Homeowners' Association Ombudsman has already issued an advisory opinion on exactly this type of dispute.
Per the Ombudsman's published advisory opinions: a homeowner moved a trailer to his driveway after receiving a violation notice, believing a recent change in state law protected him. The HOA maintained it was still a violation. The Ombudsman concluded that because the trailer in question was a utility trailer — not a motor home or travel trailer — it was an operable vehicle protected by the statute, and the Association could not prohibit its driveway parking by rule alone.
The Ombudsman also found that the HOA's own CC&Rs permitted "customary parking," defined as parking operable vehicles in the driveway — which further supported the homeowner's position.
This ruling matters for Eagle Mountain homeowners because it shows the distinction between vehicle types is being actively enforced. A boat trailer or utility trailer may be protected. A motor home, travel trailer, or fifth wheel may not be — depending on what your CC&Rs say.
Eagle Mountain City Ordinance: The Other Layer
Your HOA's rules are only one layer. Eagle Mountain City has its own parking ordinance that applies to everyone — with or without an HOA.
Per Eagle Mountain Municipal Code Chapter 10.10:
On public streets: It is unlawful to park any recreational vehicle, agricultural vehicle, or trailer on any public street within a residential zone for longer than 24 hours. This is a city ordinance — not an HOA rule — and it applies to every Eagle Mountain resident regardless of their HOA's policies.
In your front yard or driveway: The city ordinance restricts parking RVs and trailers in the front yard. The ordinance defines "recreational vehicle" to include motor homes, travel trailers, fifth wheels, and similar vehicles designed as temporary dwellings.
What this means practically: Even if your HOA cannot restrict your RV in the driveway under the new state law, Eagle Mountain's city ordinance may still apply. The city's Neighborhood Improvement department enforces city code — not HOA CC&Rs. If you have a question about whether your specific situation complies with city ordinance, contact Eagle Mountain City directly or visit eaglemountain.gov/neighborhood-improvement.
So What Can Your HOA Actually Do?
Here's the practical breakdown based on the current state of Utah law and Eagle Mountain city ordinance:
HOA board rules (adopted without owner vote) cannot:
- Prohibit parking of boats, utility trailers, or other operable non-RV vehicles in your driveway — per HB 217
- Regulate parking on public streets — that's the city's jurisdiction
HOA board rules (or CC&Rs) can still:
- Restrict motor homes, travel trailers, camping trailers, and fifth wheel trailers in driveways — these are explicitly excluded from the HB 217 protection
- Require inoperable vehicles to be removed from driveways
- Require garage parking before driveway parking for certain vehicle types — if the CC&Rs authorize it
Your CC&Rs matter separately from board rules. HB 217 limits what boards can do by rule. If your CC&Rs (the recorded governing documents approved by a vote of the original owners) already restrict RV or trailer parking, those restrictions may still be enforceable even under the new law. Read your specific CC&Rs — not just the board's current rules.
On r/Utah and Eagle Mountain Facebook groups, the most common frustration is from residents who assumed HB 217 wiped out all RV parking restrictions — only to discover their CC&Rs still contain the restriction, independently of the board's rule-making authority. The law changed what boards can do by rule. It didn't automatically override what's in your recorded CC&Rs.
The Bottom Line for Eagle Mountain Homeowners
- Boat on a trailer, utility trailer: Your HOA board likely cannot restrict this in your driveway by rule alone under HB 217 — but check your CC&Rs and Eagle Mountain city ordinance
- Motor home, travel trailer, fifth wheel, camping trailer: Your HOA may still be able to restrict these in your driveway — they are explicitly excluded from HB 217's driveway protection
- On the street: Eagle Mountain city ordinance limits RVs and trailers on public streets to 24 hours — regardless of HOA rules
- In your garage: HOAs generally cannot regulate what's inside your garage — if it fits, it's yours
If you're in a dispute with your HOA over RV or trailer parking, the Utah HOA Ombudsman can issue advisory opinions on whether your HOA is complying with state law. You can also search your HOA's contact information at the Utah HOA Registry.
If You're Buying in Eagle Mountain and This Matters to You
If RV or boat storage is important to your lifestyle, this is something to sort out before you make an offer — not after you close. Ask your agent to pull the specific CC&Rs for any community you're considering and look for the vehicle storage and parking section. Don't rely on a neighbor's interpretation or a Facebook post.
As I've covered in my Eagle Mountain HOA guide, the CC&Rs tell you exactly what you're agreeing to live by when you buy into a community. Read them before you fall in love with a floor plan.
Questions About HOA Rules in Eagle Mountain? Let's Chat →
Related reading:
- Eagle Mountain HOA Closing Costs: What Is the Reinvestment Fee and Who Pays It?
- What to Know About HOAs Before Buying in Eagle Mountain
- What Can You Get in Eagle Mountain Under $500,000?
- Hidden Costs of New Construction in Eagle Mountain
Sources: Utah HOA Law Blog — New 2025 HOA Laws (HB 217), May 2025; Counsel Our HOA — New 2025 HOA Laws; Utah Department of Commerce — HOA Ombudsman Advisory Opinions (Knight/Sagewood Village case — utility trailer protected as operable vehicle); Eagle Mountain Municipal Code Chapter 10.10 — Parking; Eagle Mountain City — Neighborhood Improvement; Utah HOA Registry; Utah Department of Commerce — HOA Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my Eagle Mountain HOA stop me from parking my RV in my driveway? It depends on the type of vehicle and what your CC&Rs say. Under Utah's HB 217 (effective May 7, 2025), HOA boards cannot restrict most operable vehicles in your driveway by rule alone — but motor homes, travel trailers, camping trailers, and fifth wheel trailers are explicitly excluded from this protection. Your CC&Rs may also independently restrict RV parking regardless of the board's rule-making authority. Read your specific CC&Rs.
Can I park my boat in my Eagle Mountain driveway? A boat on a trailer is generally considered a utility trailer — not an RV or travel trailer — and under HB 217, HOA boards likely cannot restrict utility trailers in driveways by rule alone. However, your CC&Rs may contain restrictions independently of the board's rules. Check your CC&Rs and Eagle Mountain's city ordinance.
Can I park my RV on the street in Eagle Mountain? Eagle Mountain's city ordinance limits parking of recreational vehicles and trailers on public streets within residential zones to 24 hours. This is a city rule — it applies to all Eagle Mountain residents regardless of HOA policies.
What's the difference between HOA rules and CC&Rs when it comes to RV parking? HB 217 (2025) limits what HOA boards can do by adopting a rule on their own. It does not automatically override restrictions that are already written into your CC&Rs — the recorded governing documents. If your CC&Rs restrict RV parking, those provisions may still be enforceable even under the new law.
What if I think my HOA is wrongly restricting my driveway parking? The Utah HOA Ombudsman issues advisory opinions on HOA compliance disputes. Visit commerce.utah.gov/hoa to submit a request. The Ombudsman has already ruled in at least one case that a utility trailer was protected from driveway parking restrictions under the new state law.