"Camping" on your own land
 

Hi. I am having trouble finding an answer on this. I was wondering if anyone knows for sure what period of time would be considered "camping" and would be legal on my own land? I searched but could not find a definite answer. And I tried specifically searching for New York State laws but came up with nothing.

I am going to be building a small home eventually, pay as I go, and wanted to see about staying in my travel trailer hooked up to well and septic after those are in.

Well, thanks to anyone who can point me in the right direction!

Most likely, there is no state law governing this.

Call your local building permit agency, and ask. Don't share your name, but know what your zoning is. Just ask as a hypothetical. If they won't tell you, hang up, and try calling a building contractor.

Check with the local zoning officials. There won't be a state law to cover it. Here you are not allowed to even take a nap in a camper unless it's parked in an approved rv facility. But there are counties (and even townships, depends on the part of Ohio) where you can live in a camper and use an outhouse and there are no zoning regs against it.

If it is your own land then why would you ask permission to do as you like?

Well, if you're living where your neighbors can see you, and they are motivated to turn you in, fines and possibly eviction can result.

Voice of experience here...Maybe the risks are worth it to you, but they were not worth it to me.

Unless its changed in Michigan you had to file for a hardship permit and then you could live on your land for 1 year in a trailer. Just a thought stop by a trailer park and ask they might be able to point you in the right direction. Best of luck

Thanks for the replies! My neighbors wouldn't be able to see UNLESS they are on my land, probably about 300 ft or so. But the place is on a dead end town road, and it's the next to last one before the end. So, I would be seen going back and forth by busybodies.

Good idea on calling campgrounds/RV places. I will try some in the A.M.

to my knowldge you can camp on your own land as long as you want, its camping on others land or parks that there is a time limit, this is due to the adverse posession laws that let you claim land you live on for so long.

In my locality, you may 'camp' on your own land for no more than 14 consecutive days. Unless a neighbor complains, I don't think they are too strict about enforcing the rule though.

In one sense if your place is in an area with zoning carp-ola then your in the wrong area.
Your land . . . .do what you want

permits are nothing but extortion
money for a piece of paper.................BS

Read very carefully and you might get the idea that I'm a big fan against """permits"""

My place is zoned "Agriculture/Forestry" but I'm not sure if that means anything as far as any camping rules. As far as I know, I still need septic permit, building permit, etc. And I have to build a "house" AT LEAST 800 square feet of "conditioned" living space i.e. porches don't count.

Hmmmmm maybe I should check for loopholes.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

If you're going to go guerilla (no asking the state for permission slips "please, master, may I?") make sure you have enough land to have a good 'screen' [build far off the road]. If you get any kind of utilities hooked up, your presence will be known.

You should be able to do pretty much anything you want, as long as you don't let anyone know about your plans... however, this would mean not becoming part of the community, which really isn't wise.

Here in California (stanislaus county to be exact) you can live in your RV if it is "road ready" (as in has tags or current license or whatever it takes to make it legal to be pulled on or driven on the road) and just keep it road ready and you can live on your land for up to 180 days (6 months) at a time. so you can technically drive around the block and go back or park it the other direction or something, or just stay put until some county person comes and tells you they KNOW for a fact that you've been there over 6 months, and then you can drive off and come back next day or something I guess. never done it, but according to the codes I read, thats the sum of it. oh, and you cannot have any permanent structure attached to the RV, but most people dont anyway, so I dont think thats a big deal. You CAN hook up to utilities you just have to be road ready from what I understand (as in, able to pick up and go on the road at anytime if wanted/needed).

I'm going to agree with "Don't ask, don't tell". I live in rural NY. Myself, and my neighbors, we do what we want, within reason. I don't think the authorities care as long as no one complains. We are very respectful of each other.

It has never occured to me to ask such a question. I figure once I bought it, I can camp as long as I like.

I suppose you could have a camper trailer that you are just using to store stuff in. Of course, someone would have to stand watch over it at night to make sure no one stole anything.

Our property is governed by covenants, and camping is permitted, but not permanent living in a camper. Health Department rules usually apply also, as a septic system is usually necessary. Check your deed to see if restrictive covenants apply and make an anonymous call to your Health Department.

You didn't put your location in your postings so that could be a factor...

You could check your deed, etc.

Our stipulations were no hog farm, no goats of a particular kind, no junk yards, no mobile homes. Living in a camper is permitted if its temporary. These things we knew when we purchased & we are ok w/'em. Keeps the area lookin' good.

I had to call the local zoning officer, and in my area you can camp as much as you like. As long as its on wheels it was fine. I would just ask if there are any rules about camping, wouldn't say you are planning on doing extended camping.

Last year we sold a parcel of land(land contract). the people that bought it wanted to "camp" on it. It became a huge fight with the township. Because it was still in our name, we had to be in the deal. The Township used every excuse they could find, wanted the chicken coop and the storage shed tore down, noone was allowed to stay over night. In the end we won and the buildings stayed (right to farm act.) and the people cannot spend the night. Do as Texican said and deal with the law later if you have to. We had a neighbor that was causing the trouble , because of an easement we granted them when we sold them our house adjoining the land. Otherwise I dought noone would even care.

Yeah, What MissyMoo said, should keep you covered. Wouldn't be a problem in my area in Missouri since I know of several people who live in their trailers year round, around and have no intentions of doing anything else. At least not in the immediate future. They will usually get around to building in 3 or 4 years.

Mainly just keep the license up to date, and air in the tires. If some busybody gives you trouble, pull it around the "Block" and park it in a different direction.

Because in some areas (such as where I live) extended camping is illegal and would get you fined, yes even on your own land. Not many have extra money to toss to the courts.

Our township...or maybe it's our county?....has an ordinance that says a camper (RV-type) cannot be lived in for more than 30 consecutive days. I don't know if that means that one can go on a one day vacation with the RV and then park it back on the same spot for another 30 days or what?

If it is YOUR land do as you like. Just as long as you don't steal your neighbors daylight or remove support from his land or start draining water on adjoining land. In other words, don't do any injury and you are good to go.

As to whether such activities are profitable when it comes to court my guess is if you show up in court you have already lost.

One idea to hold busy bodies at bay is provide sufficient notice to anyone coming on the property that makes it clear that there is a daily use fee for trespass. Then hold them to it. Avoid contract (such as zoning) but if you have already agreed to it then fulfill all commitments to the letter. If camping is prohibited then pitch a tent for shelter from the elements and call it something else. I would suggest the phrase "survival" as you have an unlimited right to survive.

Townships, counties and metros have the right to dictate what goes on upon THEIR land. They have less of a right to dictate what you do with private property.

However to be perfectly fair consider whether you have done anything to give the township/county the idea that they have any right to dictate to you on your own property. Registration of the land with the county is one action that comes to mind (along with entering onto the tax rolls) that would give the county some sort of legal ownership to your property leaving you with equitable right to use it as they see fit.

Being someone who lives in NYS, in a rural township, and has to deal with a zoning board it's best to check and stay above board - in other words follow the law(s).
I had some cement work to be done and called the zoning board (codes officer) for some questions that came up. He said no reason for a permit for what I had in mind. He in turn stopped by to "shoot the breeze" while the work was being done. Nothing about the work was mentioned and nothing came of his "visit".
In turn, a fellow down the road decided to put in a new septic system. He decided that permits and such weren't right nor needed. Well, he was in the process of back-filling over the leach field when the codes officer happened to stop by and tell him of all that was wrong with what he had done starting by not getting any permits for the install....... From there he was informed that he had to "expose" the whole system for inspection and oh yea there were fines also involved.
As to "camping" on your own land - in this township - as long as there are no permanent attachments of the camper to the ground; such as a water pipe, septic, electrical, etc and you do not "reside" there (get mail as an example) you're free to come and go as you please..........
Sooo, my suggestion would be to connect with the local codes (zoning) officer and stay within the law, specially if you plan on living there - it makes life a whole lot easier........

jbos333

Try this: http://www.generalcode.com/webcode2.html#newy If your govermental unit is on the New York State list, it may help. Otherwise, maybe one nearby will give you some clues. Looks like New York has a statewide building code which is administrated by each local governmental unit. You won't know how strict the enforcement is until you actually live there for awhile. It could be a 'good ole boy' system on one extreme, to a 'strictly by the book' operation administered by a contracted, professional agency in a remote town, on the other.

You can do what you want, but if it were me, I would stay away from either extreme; one, that of running up the flag of defiance, or, the other, trying to live too far under the radar. Either way has the potential of getting you into deep doodoo with the gov. authorities(who, by the way, will be your neighbors....). A defiant attitude will make them try to force you to go by the book, and flying too low will cause you to get cease and desist orders and lengthy delays and sessions with zoning board of appeals members(who will also be your neighbors....)

Most of the good people on this forum already have an established, so-called right to 'live as they see fit on their own property' by virtue of a deed or a certificate of occupancy--so I would discount some of the defiant attitudes for now until I have that right myself. In my opinion, I would make it my goal to get to that point, too, and then work toward making my property into the state of visibility that suits me...... and as quickly as possible. The gov. authorities(your neighbors) aren't dumb, by experience, they know that those who want to "wing it" will more than likely lose sight of the goal and end up living in a temporary situation for the rest of their life. And of course, sharing a lesser tax burden for the services offered by the government.

Most building codes are essentially the same. A mobile home or trailer(even a camper) can be located on a building site as long as it is definitely used for storage of materials and equipment only or used as a contractor's office. One could cheat and use a camper, but the catch is, that you have to get the inspector to come out at many intervals to do the phase inspections--he/she will take note....... and you will be found out(especially if you have hooked it up to the septic system)........ Also, that inspector has a right to come out at random times....(caught again).


Soooooo, what to do? Hmmmm, that's why I have always thought the step van would be the good, middle solution. It's your work vehicle(just happens to have a bed and stove, fridge, toilet and shower? built inside) but you use it each day to get to the work site, transport materials, get in out of the rain, etc, etc, meet the inspector, fix your lunch, clean up after messy jobs........well, so you stay there a few evenings when you've worked until after dark and are too tired to go to the state park campground(see the sticker on the windshield?)......after all, your goal is to get the danged house built, liveable, and inspected ASAP, isn't it?

And the electricity, well and septic go in first.....aha, your dump station, and your lighting in those evenings when you have worked past dark and were too tired to go to the state park campground.......(and air conditioner or heater and fridge)

Sound like a plan?

geo

I would have never thought to ask anyone before reading this thread about camping on my own land. If I wanted to camp on my land then I would probly just do it, I'm the one paying the property taxes so I figure as long as I'm not hurting anyone then it's no one's buisness what I'm doing.

After reading this thread, I sometimes wonder if we really do own our own land?

The thread isn't really about camping on your own land, but about camping on your land for an extended period of time, in essence living there.

here in Gunnison county you can live in a camper on your own property while building your house and you can just plain camp for up to 30 days I believe without building, but you can't just move a self contained camper in and live it it forever............

Ijust put in a homemade septic tank from well tile for a couple thats moved their camper to their place. They are going by my policy of easier to get forgiveness than permission. They have a small deisel Genset and solar. They are also puttingin an 850 gallon wtar tank.

Isn't it simpler to just ask what the rules are for your township before you break them?

Our rural township doesn't allow camping for extended periods of time. The township residents asked for this rule because of people "camping" on land they don't own (squatting) and problems with huge amounts of garbage left behind in abandoned campsites. If you were to set up long term camping here, it is very likely your neighbors would turn you in for breaking the rules
I should not that other parts of the county have had problems with meth labs at campsites, but not in our township.

Our township does allow people to camp while building their house, but they need to have an active building permit and they can only "Camp" for up to 1 year.

deb
in wi

Sorry in NYS you have to start with the most local; most of the time that is either village, city, or if rural the township zoning board(s).
The county doesn't really know nor care about village/city/town rules/laws only because each most likely is different.
Therefore check with the "most" local - they will not only have their laws/rules that you have to adhere to but will also include any and all of the larger (county, state, etc) laws/rules......
Sorry but that's the way it is.......

I was wondering the same thing.

I went the fly under the radar approach with my first patch of land. I bought 5 acres about 5 years ago and built me a small shack out of pallets. I built it in the back where it was somewhat hidden from view. I later moved in a mobile home a couple of months later. I never bothered to ask about permits and such. Nothing happened until I went to sell the place.

The buyer asked the planning and zoning department about wetlands (I had done the same thing 3 years prior). Apparently between the time I had bought and then the DNR had decided almost the entire parcel was wetlands :badmood:

I talked to the planning and zoning dept. head myself and he told me that the county was getting ready to send me a letter claiming I had to remove my trailer from the "wetlands" He also went on to tell me I needed a building permit and some sort of inspected waste disposal system. Since the land was in the process of being sold the guy let me slide (I removed the trailer and put it on my parents land far out of view).

I never got mail there (had a fire number though) so that probably helped me fly under the radar as long as I did. Nothing was said about the shack. The next owner parked a good sized travel trailer and got a porta-john. I guess it is okay to park a trailer in wetlands as long as it is registered and has wheels still on it.

If I were to do something similar in the future I would buy a bigger parcel of land in a less populated area and keep my "camp" hidden from view. I would also put in a gate or some sort of removable bridge. As far as I know folks from the planing and zoning department don't have the authority to trespass onto land to find violations (although the DNR does). The other idea I had was to find an old house to tear down and "move" it piece by piece to my property. In Wisconsin homes built before 1980 are exempt from building codes and inspections.

I also live in New York state and totally agree with Michael. You have to check first with the local authorities. I started a thread similar to this a while back and because of the advice I got here I contacted them and was told that in the township we were searching you could not "camp" on your own land for more than 60 days consecutively. I also learned that it is different in every town so definitely check with them anonymously.

I try to never ask permission to use my land as I see fit. Some communities have a lot more rules than others. I understand that. Perhaps that is why I live in the country. There are a few rules here too, perhaps 10 times more than there were 25 years ago, or so. Most of the rules are for the purpose of collecting fees of some kind.

Long story short, I would not ask anybody for permission to camp out on my own land, and most likely would invite anyone who objected to leave. :run:

As long as it is your own land you might be able to get away with it indefinately..I definately would hide the camper from the road if I could..but being in NY you have snow removal to consider.

I would also use bales of hay to insulate around the bottom of the home, setting the ones near the front on plastic so they don't freeze to the ground in case you have to remove them to move the camper should problems arise..and use a lot of plastic and weatherstripping, as camper trailers aren't really as well insulated as homes are.

you might even use some square hay bales to make up a mudroom area outside the door to protect the entry from cold blasts of wind..and maybe use it as a suntrap if you can face the opening south to give you a welcome out of door area in the warmer days...so you can get out of the cramped quarters.

If you can come up with a greenhouse type shelter over the door it would also be very helpful to warm the air going in the house when the door opens and maybe give you a place to get out and garden in fall and spring..and a BBQ outside would be nice on nicer days to cook outside too.

Funny here in PA they gave me a permit to build my log cabin as a hunting camp so I didn't have to build to code or pass inspections and specifically said here it's legal to camp 365 days a year. Now that's a "it's your place do what you want" kind of attitude I can live with.

Sort of reminds me of a story I heard a while back of someone in Idaho or Wyoming who got a permit to cut firewood in a national forest. When they got to checking on him they found he had built a cabin where he was supposed to be cutting firewood.

His response when cornered was that the Forest Service had not specified how the firewood was to be stacked.