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Sleeping in a motorhome in Spain
The three legal facts are distinct: parking, sleeping inside and camping. The mistake that costs money is assuming that the second follows from the first.
Sleep inside
Sleep inside
YES
- sleeping inside with everything packed away is PARKING, not camping: it is not a defined offence
- stabilising legs: forbidden, they turn parking into camping
- awning, table, chairs, hanging out washing, discharging waste water: camping
- chocks are NOT expressly regulated until 1 October 2026
Reglamento General de Circulación; Ley 7/1985; Ley 42/2007 art. RGC, sin el apartado 92.4 (se añade el 1-10-2026) · verified on 2026-08-08
«Se añade el apartado 4, con efectos de 1 de octubre de 2026, por el art. único.15 del Real Decreto 518/2026, de 24 de junio»
document archived · sha256 46cf1cab61db2006…
Park
Park
YES
- Until 30 September 2026 the RGC does not contain paragraph 92.4: a parked motorhome is governed by the general rules on stopping and parking (arts. 90 to 94), like any other vehicle.
- RGC art. 91.2: parking must allow the best use of the remaining space; arts. 91.3 and 94.3 classify dangerous parking, or parking that seriously obstructs traffic, as a serious offence.
- There is no national limit by length or weight: over 6 m or over 3,500 kg is restricted only by municipal by-law and by signage (RGC art. 93, in force until 30-9-2026).
- Built-up areas: parking is forbidden on pavements and promenades, double-parked, in loading bays, in front of dropped kerbs and in reserved lanes (RGC art. 94.2).
- Public maritime domain (beaches): unauthorised parking and driving are forbidden (Ley 22/1988 art. 33.5).
Reglamento General de Circulación, aprobado por Real Decreto 1428/2003, de 21 de noviembre (texto consolidado) arts. 90 a 94 RGC (sin el apartado 92.4, que se añade el 1-10-2026) · verified on 2026-09-05
«1. La parada y el estacionamiento deberán efectuarse de tal manera que el vehículo no obstaculice la circulación ni constituya un riesgo para el resto de los usuarios de la vía, cuidando especialmente la colocación del vehículo y evitar que pueda ponerse en movimiento en ausencia del conductor (artículo 38.3 del texto articulado).»
document archived · sha256 46cf1cab61db2006…
Inside a protected area
Park
NO
- PARKING itself is prohibited, not only sleeping: nothing needs to be set out
Ley 22/1988 de Costas art. 33.5 y 97 · verified on 2026-08-08
«Quedarán prohibidos el estacionamiento y la circulación no autorizada de vehículos, así como los campamentos y acampadas.»
document archived · sha256 83415504f46e59c1…
Regions
Andalucía785 municipalitiesAragón731 municipalitiesAsturias78 municipalitiesCanarias88 municipalitiesCantabria102 municipalitiesCastilla y León2.248 municipalitiesCastilla-La Mancha919 municipalitiesCatalunya947 municipalitiesCeuta1 municipalitiesComunidad de Madrid179 municipalitiesComunitat Valenciana542 municipalitiesExtremadura388 municipalitiesGalicia313 municipalitiesIlles Balears67 municipalitiesLa Rioja174 municipalitiesMelilla1 municipalitiesNavarra272 municipalitiesPaís Vasco252 municipalitiesRegión de Murcia45 municipalities
The signage on site and the local authority prevail. This reproduces the written rule as at the date indicated: it is not legal advice or an authorisation.