Southeast Ohio Storm Housing, RV Rules

Local rules on a trailer on your lot. We found the official local code for the City of Zanesville, unincorporated Muskingum County (including Falls and Washington townships), the Village of New Lexington, and the Village of McConnelsville, each quoted below with its source. For unincorporated Perry County and unincorporated Morgan County, we did not find a rule on an official page, so check with the local office. We confirm the rule for your address before delivery. See the local rules.

This page is for homeowners in Zanesville, New Lexington, McConnelsville, and rural Muskingum, Perry, and Morgan counties whose home is not livable after the August 2026 storms. Ohio law lets a township, or a county with rural zoning, bar travel trailers from residential districts, so the city, village, or township code decides. Zanesville and McConnelsville limit living in an RV to seven nights in a row and New Lexington to five days, with no rebuilding exception found, and much of rural Muskingum County has no zoning. 1st Choice Living has placed furnished travel trailers on homeowners’ own property, nationwide, since 2004. We check the local rule for your address before anything is delivered, and we bill the carrier directly under ALE where the claim covers it.

The August storms and Muskingum, Perry, and Morgan counties

FEMA lists Muskingum County, Perry County, and Morgan County under Individual Assistance for this disaster. Households there apply for FEMA help at DisasterAssistance.gov or 1-800-621-3362; Ohio EMA gives December 1, 2026 as the deadline to apply in Ohio. Storm facts as of October 17, 2026, from official sources:

Ohio. On August 11, 2026, Governor DeWine declared a state of emergency in Perry and Muskingum counties, and amended it to add Franklin County on August 13 and Morgan County on August 14, 2026. Source
Federal, Ohio. On October 2, 2026, FEMA listed a major disaster declaration for Ohio, DR-4945-OH, for severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding, and landslides from August 10 to 22, 2026. As of October 17, 2026, its designated areas page named 7 counties under Individual Assistance, the FEMA program that pays households directly: Clermont, Franklin, Hamilton, Licking, Morgan, Muskingum, and Perry. Source
Deadline to apply, Ohio. On October 13, 2026, the Ohio Emergency Management Agency said the deadline to apply for FEMA assistance is December 1, 2026. Source
Weather, Ohio. NWS Wilmington describes a widespread severe weather outbreak across the Ohio Valley on August 11, 2026, with an 82 mph gust at John Glenn Columbus International Airport, and says the afternoon round of storms was classified as a derecho by the Storm Prediction Center. Source

Go back to a property only when local officials say it is safe. For roads, debris, and assistance events, follow the Muskingum County EMA, the Perry County Emergency Management Agency, and the Morgan County August 2026 flood information (Morgan County EMA), and the Ohio Emergency Management Agency.

Recovery status as of October 17, 2026

What the official county, city, state, utility, and FEMA pages stated when we read them. Each line carries its date and links its source.

October 14, 2026. The FEMA Disaster Recovery Center at the William H. Barker Community Center, 13047 Karl Brown Rd, Roseville (Perry County), changed hours to Wednesday to Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Sunday. Source: FEMA
October 5, 2026. FEMA said homeowners and renters in Morgan, Muskingum and Perry counties may apply at DisasterAssistance.gov, the FEMA app, or 800-621-3362. Source: FEMA
August 24, 2026. A Tri-County Multi-Agency Resource Center for Morgan, Muskingum and Perry counties opened at the William H. Barker Community Center, 13047 Karl Brown Road, Roseville, weekdays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through September 4. Morgan County extended its deadline for residential flood damage claims to September 10, 2026. Source: Morgan County
August 13, 2026. Morgan County said its Health Department is heading up debris management in a coordinated effort with Muskingum and Perry counties. Source: Morgan County
August 11, 2026. The Morgan County Commissioners declared a State of Emergency for Morgan County due to excessive rainfall and flooding. Source: Morgan County Commissioners

Not stated on an official page. Anything not listed here was not stated on an official page we read. Ask the county emergency management agency for the latest.

Local rules on living in an RV on your lot

Whether a trailer can stay on your lot while the house is repaired is decided by your city or town, or outside city limits by the county or township, and by your HOA if you have one. We did not find an Ohio statute or state building rule that allows living in an RV or travel trailer on the lot of a home that is not livable after a disaster. Ohio law lets a township, and a county with rural zoning, prohibit travel trailers from any residential district, so the local zoning resolution decides.

“Prohibit from any residential district or zone, travel trailers, park trailers, and mobile homes, as these terms are defined in section 4501.01 of the Revised Code” Ohio Revised Code 519.212(B)(2) (township zoning) Ohio Revised Code 303.212(B)(2) (county rural zoning)

Here is what each local code says, in plain words and then in its own words, with the link to the official page it was read on.

City of Zanesville

Zanesville's zoning code lets one RV per home be parked in a residential district, but it may not be lived in or slept in for more than seven nights in a row. No storm or rebuilding exception was found. Ask the city zoning office before anyone moves in.

“A single recreational vehicle as defined herein per dwelling unit may be parked or stored in a Residential District provided that it is: (1) Not occupied for living or sleeping purposes for more than seven consecutive nights;” Source: Zanesville Codified Ordinances, Sec. 1149.20(a), Parking of Recreational Vehicles

Unincorporated Muskingum County (including Falls and Washington townships)

Muskingum County has no countywide zoning. The county says zoning covers only the City of Zanesville, the villages of Frazeysburg and New Concord, Wayne Township, the eastern half of Falls Township, and the area around the Airport Exit in Perry Township; Washington Township is not on the county auditor's list of zoned areas. No township RV rule was found online, so call the township zoning inspector (Falls Township 740-819-4682) before anyone moves in.

“To date, zoning only covers the following jurisdictions in whole: City of Zanesville, Village of Frazeysburg, Village of New Concord and Wayne Township. Falls Township has zoned the eastern half, and Perry Township has zoned the vicinity directly surrounding the Airport Exit.” Source: Muskingum County, Zoning Purpose & Facts

Village of New Lexington

New Lexington's zoning code says travel trailers, motor homes and campers may not be lived in or slept in for more than five days. No storm or rebuilding exception was found. Call the village zoning line at (740) 343-4667 before anyone moves in.

“Recreational equipment shall not be occupied or used for living, sleeping, housekeeping, storage or business purposes for a period exceeding five (5) days.” Source: New Lexington Codified Ordinances, Sec. 1157.10(c), Parking Limitations in Residential Districts

Unincorporated Perry County

We did not find a rule on living in an RV or travel trailer on your own lot on an official page for unincorporated Perry County. Check with the local planning or zoning office before a trailer is placed, and ask whether a permit is needed and how long a temporary unit may stay.

Village of McConnelsville

A 2024 village ordinance lets one RV per home be parked in a residential district, but it may not be lived in or slept in for more than seven nights in a row. No storm or rebuilding exception was found. Call the village office at 740-962-3163 before anyone moves in.

“Not occupied for living or sleeping purposes for more than seven consecutive nights;” Source: Village of McConnelsville Ordinance 24-07 (passed June 4, 2024), Sec. 1.A.1, Parking of Recreational Vehicles/Box Trucks

Unincorporated Morgan County

We did not find a rule on living in an RV or travel trailer on your own lot on an official page for unincorporated Morgan County. Check with the local planning or zoning office before a trailer is placed, and ask whether a permit is needed and how long a temporary unit may stay.

Ohio law lets a township, or a county with rural zoning, bar travel trailers from its residential districts, so outside a city or village the township or county zoning office has the say. Where a township has no zoning, building and health rules still apply.

Rules here were read on official city, town, township, and county pages on October 17, 2026 and can change during a recovery. We confirm the rule for your address before delivery.

Permit and planning offices

Septic and health

No county health department rule on hooking an RV to a home septic system was found for Muskingum, Perry or Morgan County. Ohio's state septic rules say a system may not be installed, altered or operated without a permit from the local board of health, and a household system may serve only a one-, two- or three-family dwelling, so call the county health department before connecting. Source: Ohio Adm. Code 3701-29-06, General provisions and prohibitions

Power utilities

AEP Ohio: Muskingum County's infrastructure report says AEP provides electric distribution in the county's urban and industrial areas. Source
Guernsey-Muskingum Electric Cooperative: Serves members in Muskingum, Morgan and Perry counties, among others. Outage reporting 1-800-521-9879. Source
South Central Power Company: Muskingum County's infrastructure report lists it among co-ops with limited service areas in the county; the co-op also reports transmission work in Perry County. Source
Washington Electric Cooperative: Service area includes portions of Morgan County. Source

If a trailer is not allowed at your address

Then a trailer on your lot is not the answer, and we will tell you so. Ask the planning office what it does allow during repairs, and ask your adjuster how your Additional Living Expenses apply to a hotel or a furnished rental instead. Our guide to arranging your own temporary housing covers the questions to ask and the receipts to keep.

How the trailer is billed: Additional Living Expenses

Additional Living Expenses, or ALE, sometimes called loss of use, pays for somewhere to live while the house is not livable. Ask your carrier whether your policy includes it and what the limit is. The Ohio Department of Insurance says insurance policies usually pay for reasonable after-the-fact expenses, including additional living expenses: “room and board (e.g., stay at a hotel or motel) while you are unable to use your house.” If you need temporary housing, it says to check your policy for loss of use coverage, notes that many policies cover such expenses up to a stated amount, and says to keep receipts for emergency expenses such as temporary housing.

Local rules for your address checked before delivery.
A furnished travel trailer with a kitchen, a bathroom, real beds, and heat and air, delivered, leveled, and set up on your property.
Utilities connected by licensed, insured contractors from our preferred vendor network, planned around what is actually working at the property.
Site conditions documented at setup and again at takedown.
Direct billing to your carrier under ALE where the claim covers it, tracked against your ALE limit.
One named contact from the first call to the day the unit leaves.

Flood is different. National Flood Insurance Program policies do not provide additional living expense coverage. If your home also had damage your homeowners policy covers, such as wind, ask your adjuster how ALE applies. Your own carrier’s policy form sets the time and dollar limits; we have quoted them, with the source, on loss of use coverage by insurance carrier. This is general information, not legal or coverage advice. Your policy and your adjuster decide what is covered. 1st Choice Living is independent of every insurer and of FEMA.

Already working with a temporary housing company?

We work with any temporary housing company. If one is handling your housing, ask them to place you with 1st Choice Living for a trailer on your own lot in Zanesville. They send us the placement, we deliver, set up, and service the trailer, and the billing runs through them or straight to your carrier, whichever way their program works.

What we need to start

The property address and whether it is inside city or town limits.
How many people are in the household.
Your claim number and your adjuster’s name and contact.
Your ALE limit, if your adjuster has told you.

From there we check the local rule for that address, confirm the lot can take a unit, and plan setup around what is safe and working at the property. Adjusters and housing companies can send a placement through for adjusters and carriers or for housing companies.

Ask about a trailer on your Zanesville lot

Call or send the request form with your claim number, your adjuster’s contact, and the property address. We confirm the local rule first, and tell you plainly if a trailer on your lot is not the right fit.

Call (214) 493-1515 Request housing

Frequently asked questions

Can I live in a travel trailer on my lot in Zanesville while my house is repaired?

Zanesville's zoning code lets one RV per home be parked in a residential district, but it may not be lived in or slept in for more than seven nights in a row, and we found no storm or rebuilding exception. Ask the city zoning office before anyone moves in.

Does Muskingum County have zoning outside Zanesville?

Not countywide. The county says zoning covers only Zanesville, Frazeysburg, New Concord, Wayne Township, the eastern half of Falls Township, and the area around the Airport Exit in Perry Township. Where a township is zoned, call its zoning inspector before anyone moves in.

What are the rules in New Lexington and McConnelsville?

New Lexington's zoning code says travel trailers and campers may not be lived in or slept in for more than five days. A 2024 McConnelsville ordinance allows one RV per home in a residential district but limits living or sleeping in it to seven nights in a row. Call the village office in either place before anyone moves in.

Will my homeowners insurance pay for housing while my Zanesville home is repaired?

Many homeowner policies include Additional Living Expenses, also called loss of use. The Ohio Department of Insurance says insurance policies usually pay for reasonable after-the-fact expenses, including additional living expenses such as a hotel or motel stay while you are unable to use your house, and that many policies cover such expenses up to a stated amount. Whether your policy includes it, and the limit, is a question for your adjuster. Where the claim covers a trailer on your lot and the local rule allows one, we bill the carrier directly.

I applied for FEMA help. Does that change my insurance claim?

They are separate. FEMA invites homeowners and renters in Muskingum County, Perry County, and Morgan County with uninsured damage to their primary home to apply at DisasterAssistance.gov, and Ohio EMA gives December 1, 2026 as the deadline to apply. Your Additional Living Expenses claim runs through your own carrier. 1st Choice Living is independent of FEMA and of every insurer.

Stay on your lot while the house is repaired

One named contact, local rules checked before delivery, direct billing to your carrier where the claim covers it.