Thinking about living on your land in an RV? With the right setup, it can feel like a small home, not camping. The video guide at the end of this post from Homesteading Barndo walks through the exact utilities, layout choices, and comfort upgrades that made day-to-day life steady, safe, and budget-friendly, using their own property as an example.
The video assumes that, like them, you will eventually build some sort of home on the property; however, the strategies work even if this isn’t your intention.
Not every county allows living in an RV without a house on site. Always verify with the county. Do not rely on a realtor for this. Getting it wrong can turn into a costly mistake.
Essential hookups for stationary RV living
There are three must-haves for comfort and sanity while living in your RV on your own land:
- Power—reliable, and sized for future building plans
- Water—close to the RV and protected from freezing
- Sewer—with proper drop and cleanouts, just like a full-hookup site
Dial these in, and daily life feels normal.
Power setup: panel, plugs, and planning ahead
A 400-amp main panel sets the property up for growth. It can sub-feed two 200-amp panels, one for a shop house and one for a future main house. This keeps loads split and makes future-proofing simple.
Power comes from a pole at the corner of the lot, down from the transformer into the 400-amp service. From there:
- Two 200-amp feeds serve the barn and future house.
- A 50-amp RV plug runs in conduit to a pressure-treated post near the parking area.
- A 30-amp plug was added for a pull trailer during family visits.
Think about power management now to avoid costly changes later.
Sewer hookups: permits, layout, and lessons learned
The county required a septic permit to get power connected. The well pump was permitted, too, though not required. One big mistake was letting the excavator dig down to rock. It made getting a proper pipe drop hard and raised costs. Building up and compacting the pad would have been smarter.
Size your septic system with care
Two full-hookup RV spots sit by the barn, one on each side. The sewer line runs around the house, down the side, past a cleanout, and into the septic tank. Codes will dictate minimum drop, cleanout placement, and distances. Plan the routes before final grading.
Counties often size tanks for maximum capacity. That might include bedrooms plus RV spots. One way to reduce the required tank size is to permit a three-bed, two-bath without a garbage disposal. Disposals increase septic tank size requirements. Get a good perc test so you know the leach field length and likely cost before you dig.
Water and propane
The well house sits next to the wellhead. It is close to the garden and near the shop site, so future runs are short. The well was drilled in September, they moved onto the land in December, got the kit in January, and had the shop up in February.
A water spigot sits next to power and sewer, which keeps hose runs short. A heated hose worked through most of winter, with extra insulation on the freeze-proof faucet for the coldest snaps. On the far RV site, water comes from the shop wall.
A 125-gallon propane tank cuts fuel costs and refills. It powers an on-demand water heater, oven, and range. Many suppliers lease tanks or waive fees with a minimum first-year fill.
More considerations
Make the RV pad very level and well-compacted. A slight front-to-back tilt makes stabilizers extend too far, which adds shake. A concrete pad would improve stability. A front tripod and cinder blocks under the landing gear reduce movement. Expect to re-level now and then on gravel.
High winds can make an RV sway, even at 60 miles per hour. A windbreak, cover, or lean-to helps a lot. It also keeps the entry area cleaner during mud season and cuts mess from shoes.
Living on land in an RV while building can feel steady and simple with the right setup. Size power for the future, plan septic with slope and cost in mind, protect water from freezing, and keep the RV level and stable.
RELATED
- These are the states that allow you to live in your RV full-time
- Setting some misinformation straight: Can you live in an RV on your own property?
- Live in an RV on your own property? Readers tell us where—or not
- ABCs of full-time RV living
- How to prepare land for full RV hook-ups
RVT1235
I have commented on this story in the past, but the info is not updated. There are only three counties in the state of Florida that allows you to live in a rv on your property. They are in the Big Bend and Panhandle. And you still are required to have a permit to do so. This article is very misleading.
There is nothing misleading about it. It specifically tells you to check with your county. This article is not specifically about Florida (or Georgia, not sure what you were trying to say), but it is not misleading. Also, I am not sure how you commented before as this is a new post.
Hi, Cheri and Alil. They probably commented previously on one of the posts on this topic that is linked at the bottom. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane
Thank you for the video, Cheri! We lived in our RV for 8 months in 2017 while our house was built. We asked no one in county government if we could, we presumed that we could and did. Turns out, it is illegal to do so in our county (Hamilton, Tennessee), but the county relies on neighbor complaints as the sole way of detecting violaters. Our RV barn (where we lived in our rig) is 1/4 of a mile from the nearest road and not visible from the road. Hence, no one complained. Have a great week and safe travels!