12 October 2026 · 6 minute read
What Is the 10 Year Rule for RVs?
- In a poll of 94 RV parks, only 3 out of 100 had a strict 10 year rule.
- 78 out of 100 said they decide by the condition of the RV.
- We read the posted rules at five Southern California parks. None used 10 years. Three used 20.
- The state park on our list posts no age rule at all.
- Photos sent ahead of time are how most older rigs get a yes.
The 10 year rule lets a private RV park turn away a rig over 10 years old. What five Southern California parks really post, and how to get an older RV approved.
A camper on the west shore of Diaz Lake, near Lone Pine, under the Eastern Sierra. Photo: Don Graham, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick Answer
The 10 year rule is a private park policy. It lets an RV park or resort turn away a rig that is more than 10 years old. It is not a law. No state or federal rule says an old RV cannot camp.
Most parks do not use a hard cutoff. They judge the rig in front of them. If yours is clean and works, the year on the title matters far less than the forums make it sound.
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What the Rule Actually Says
There is no one rule. Each park writes its own, and the wording changes what you need to do.
Some parks set a hard line. Others set a line and add unless we approve it. Some name no year and just say the rig has to be in good shape. A few want to see it before they take your money.
The words years old also leave a gap. Most rules we read do not say if they count from the model year or the day it was built. A 2016 trailer sold in 2015 can land on either side. Ask the park how they count before you book.
How common is a strict cutoff? Togo RV polled 94 RV parks on age limits. As RV Lifestyle reported on March 1, 2024, 3% had a strict 10 year rule and 4% had a strict 15 year rule. 78% said older rigs are at their discretion, and 15% had no age policy. Read the poll results.
What Five Southern California Parks Post
Most pages on this topic never quote a real park. So in October 2026 we read the posted rules for five places RVers book near Temecula, Hemet and San Diego. Three are private resorts, one is a resort for long stays, and one is a state park. You can browse more parks in the same area on our Riverside County campgrounds and San Diego County campgrounds pages.
| Park | Where | Posted age rule | What else it says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mission Bay RV Resort | San Diego | Under 20 years old unless the resort allows it | Every RV must be approved ahead. No rust and no graffiti. |
| Campland on the Bay | San Diego | Under 20 years old unless the resort allows it | Must be built by a maker, not at home. No buses or vans unless certified. |
| Pechanga RV Resort | Temecula | 20 years or older needs approval | Must be registered and in good shape. Can refuse rust, flat tires, broken glass or big dents. |
| Golden Village Palms RV Resort | Hemet | No year given | Each RV must be new or in good condition and approved. Rules cover monthly stays at a 55 and over resort. |
| Lake Perris State Recreation Area | Perris | None on the park page | Full hookup RV sites listed at $45 a night. |
Not one of the five posted a 10 year cutoff. The three resorts that named a number used 20 years. The long stay resort named no year at all and asks for good condition. The state park said nothing about age.
That is the real shape of the rule near us. The line is wider than the name says, and condition does most of the work.
Why Parks Use an Age Rule
Read the rules side by side and the reasons show. Parks are not mad at old RVs. They are worried about what an old RV can turn into on their lot.
Looks are the first reason. A resort that sells a view does not want a rig with a tarp on the roof parked in it. Pechanga lists the things it can refuse, and they are all things you can see. Broken or cracked windows, flat tires, rust, big dents and a rig that needs paint.
Long stays are the second. A rig that sits for months can stop moving. Parks that rent by the month, like Golden Village Palms, write stricter approval rules than a weekend campground does.
Safety is the third. An old rig with tired wiring or a propane leak is a risk to the site next to it. Our guide on which RVs to stay away from covers the checks that matter most on any rig, old or new.
How to Get an Older RV Approved
Most parks with an age rule will still say yes to a rig that looks cared for. Make it easy for them.
- Find the rules page before you book. Search it for the words years old and approval.
- Call and ask how they count the age. Model year or build date can change the answer.
- Send four clear photos from the front, back and both sides. Take them in daylight with the awning in and the steps up.
- Fix what they list first. Cracked glass, flat or cracked tires, rust spots and peeling decals are the usual red flags.
- Get the yes in an email or a note on the booking. A yes on the phone can be lost by the time you pull in.
- Book early for busy weekends. A full park has less reason to bend a rule.
If a park still says no, ask what would change their mind. Sometimes it is one fix. Sometimes the answer is a different park, and that is fine too.
Where the Rule Does Not Reach
Public parks are the easy option for an older rig. The Lake Perris State Recreation Area page lists full hookup RV sites at $45 a night and says nothing about how old the RV must be. It sets rules for boats, quiet hours and the lake, not for the year of your rig. Our Lake Perris RV guide covers the sites and the drive.
KOA is a common question. KOA runs more than 500 campgrounds in the United States and Canada, and Business View Magazine reported in its June 2026 issue that about nine in ten are owned and run by franchisees. So do not assume one KOA's rule holds at the next one. Read the rules for the campground you are booking.
What People Get Backwards
Most advice on this question is forum fights, a few dealer posts and a big list from a retailer that names one park per state. None of it quoted the rule from a real park. Two pieces ended with a pitch for their own newer rigs.
They also all call it a 10 year rule as if that is the number. Near us it mostly is not. The resorts we read draw the line at 20 years, and the rest judge the rig, not the date.
So the answer is simple. Read the rules of the park you want. Send good photos. Keep the rig in shape. That gets an older RV into far more places than the forums say.
What Folks Ask
What is the 10 year rule for RV?
It is a policy some private RV parks use to turn away rigs more than 10 years old. It is not a law. Most parks that have one will still let an older RV in if it is in good shape and approved ahead of time.
Why is the 10 year RV rule?
Parks use it to keep run down rigs off the lot. They worry about looks, rigs that stop moving on long stays, and safety problems like bad wiring or leaks. Condition is what they really care about, which is why most will look at photos.
Does KOA have a 10 year rule?
There is no single answer for every KOA. Most KOA campgrounds are owned and run by franchisees, so the rules can change from one to the next. Read the rules for the KOA you plan to book, or call and ask.
What is the 10 year rule at campgrounds?
At a campground it means the same thing. The owner can refuse an RV older than 10 years. The public park we checked, Lake Perris State Recreation Area, posts no age rule at all.
Do California state parks have a 10 year rule?
We did not find one. The Lake Perris State Recreation Area page lists RV sites with full hookups at $45 a night and gives no age limit. Check the length limit for your site before you go.
How do I get around the 10 year rule?
Ask the park first and send four clear photos of the outside of the rig. Fix anything they list, like cracked glass or flat tires, and get the yes in writing. Renting a newer RV for the trip also clears the rule.
Backing for the Numbers
| What we cited | Where it came from |
|---|---|
| Under 20 years unless authorized, every RV approved ahead, no rust or graffiti. Rules dated September 9, 2026. | Mission Bay RV Resort, Rules and Policies |
| Under 20 years unless authorized, maker built only, limits on buses and vans. | Campland on the Bay, RV Standards and Campsite Conduct Policies |
| RVs 20 years or older need approval, and the list of conditions it can refuse. | Pechanga RV Resort, Rules |
| Each RV new or in good condition and approved, monthly stays, 55 and over. | Golden Village Palms RV Resort, Rules and Regulations |
| Full hookup RV sites at $45 a night. No age rule on the page. | California State Parks, Lake Perris State Recreation Area |
| Mike Wendland, March 1, 2024. Reports the Togo RV poll of 94 parks. | RV Lifestyle, The 10 Year Rule at RV Parks |
| June 2026 issue. More than 500 KOA campgrounds, about nine in ten run by franchisees. | Business View Magazine, Kampgrounds of America |
Written by The yard team. Call or text (909) 259-7837 if you want help finding a park that will take the rig you have.
