If you've considered living in a camper or an RV in Indiana, it's illegal, but there are some exceptions to this law.  It's a bit complicated so let's dive in!

A Fun Recreational Hobby

My husband and I have one goal in life, and that's to become camper people.  Okay, so it's not our only goal, but it's something we've been talking about doing for years.  We've talked about how fun it would be to get a camper, and then use it for when we go on vacations and road trips.

I mean, how fun would it be to take a trip out west and hit up campgrounds along the way?   We have also discussed getting a camper and taking weekends to stay in different state parks, allowing our kids to spend time in nature and giving us a chance to disconnect from the world.   For these reasons, we would love to get a camper one day.  While having a camper sounds like a blast, I don't think I could live in one full time, I need my space sometimes.  However, not everyone feels that way, so is it legal to live in a camper or an RV?

Is It Legal To Live in a Camper / RV in Indiana?

As with most laws, this answer isn't totally black and white.  So it is illegal in the state of Indiana to live in a camper or an RV.  The reason it's illegal is that they are considered "recreational vehicles" and are not for permanent dwelling.  But if living in a camper or an RV is your dream, there is a legal way to go about it (more on this below).

Why Can You Live in a Mobile Home But Not a Camper?

According to Jefferson County, Indiana, the reason you can live in a mobile home, but now an RV is because mobile homes are built to specific standards to be considered permanent dwellings, whereas RVs are not.

An RV is a registered / licensed by the BMV (plated as a special vehicle type) but is not built to HUD standards for permanent occupancy. Manufactured homes and mobile homes receive a title from the BMV and are built to HUD standards for permanent occupancy.

 

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How can You Legally Live in an RV in Indiana?

Suhre & Associates is a law firm based out of Indianapolis, and they actually have a really interesting deep dive on this particular subject on their website.

According to Suhre & Associates, you can legally live in an RV or a camper in the state of Indiana if you live in an RV Park.

There are places in Indiana that you can live legally in your recreational vehicle. RV parks throughout Indiana offer a variety of amenities that allow owners to live in their RVs permanently. Before you choose an RV park, you need to do some research.

Some recreational vehicle parks are developed with full hookups for water, sewer, and power. However, other RV parks are semi-developed or not developed at all. They do not have hookups for all utilities.

You can read up more on the laws surrounding living in your recreational vehicle from Suhre & Associates.