Sebastopol Municipal Code Ch. 10.76 Recreational Vehicle Parking Ordinance

This chapter shall be known as the “recreational vehicle parking ordinance.” (Ord. 1136 § 3, 2022)

The regulations enacted by this chapter are intended to ensure there is adequate parking for residents of the City and to regulate the parking of vehicles actively used as sleeping accommodations. (Ord. 1136 § 3, 2022)

Unless the contrary is stated or clearly appears from the context, the following definitions will govern the construction of the words and phrases used in this chapter:

“Homeowner” means any person who owns their home.

“Out-of-town visitor” means any natural person who does not reside in the City and who is temporarily visiting a resident of the City.

“Recreational vehicle” or “RV” means a motorhome, travel trailer, truck camper, camping trailer, or other vehicle or trailer, with or without motive power, designed or altered for human habitation for recreational, emergency, or other human occupancy. “Recreational vehicle” specifically includes, but is not limited to: a “recreational vehicle” as defined by Cal. Health & Safety Code § 18010; a “truck camper” as defined by Cal. Health & Safety Code § 18013.4; a “camp trailer” as defined in Cal. Veh. Code § 242; a “camper” as defined in Cal. Veh. Code § 243; a “fifth-wheel travel trailer” as defined in Cal. Veh. Code § 324; a “house car” as defined by Cal. Veh. Code § 362; a “trailer coach” as defined in Cal. Veh. Code § 635; a van camper; or a van conversion.

“Tenant” means any person who occupies land or property rented from a landlord. (Ord. 1136 § 3, 2022)

A. It is unlawful for a person to park or leave standing any recreational vehicle on any public street in the City that is zoned residential at any time.

B. It is unlawful for a person to park or leave standing any recreational vehicle on any public street in the City that is zoned commercial, industrial, or community facility at any time between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.

C. It is unlawful for a person to park or leave standing any recreational vehicle on any park, square, or alley at any time.

D. It is unlawful for a person to park or leave standing any recreational vehicle in any City-owned parking lot at any time unless that person is conducting City-related business during business hours. The City-owned parking lots for the Police, Fire, Public Works, and City Hall buildings may only be used when actively conducting business at those specific buildings.

E. It is unlawful for a person to park or leave standing any recreational vehicle less than 30 feet from the corner of any street so as not to impede site visibility for other motorists. (Ord. 1142, 2022; Ord. 1136 § 3, 2022)

The prohibitions of this section do not apply to:

A. Recreational vehicles parked or left standing as a result of a mechanical breakdown so as to allow the performance of emergency repairs on the vehicle for a period not to exceed 48 hours.

B. Recreational vehicles parked or left standing on any public street in the City that is zoned residential so as to allow the use of a homeowner, tenant, or out-of-town visitor to load/unload the vehicle for a period not to exceed 72 hours, which includes the loading/unloading of items and/or persons.

C. Nothing in this chapter is applicable to commercial vehicles providing services to businesses, such as the delivery or picking up of goods or vehicles otherwise approved by other City of Sebastopol departments through that department’s permitting process (e.g., construction vehicles). (Ord. 1142, 2022; Ord. 1136 § 3, 2022)

Signs giving reasonable notice of the prohibitions contained in this chapter will be erected within the City as required by the California Vehicle Code. (Ord. 1136 § 3, 2022)

No person shall:

A. Run electrical cords, extension cords, hoses, cables, or other items across, above, or on the parkway or sidewalk from any property to a recreational vehicle parked on a public street at any time;

B. Make a sewer connection with a recreational vehicle or dump wastes from a recreational vehicle onto public or private land other than a designated RV dump. Violation of this subsection is a misdemeanor. (Ord. 1136 § 3, 2022)

Unless otherwise specified, all violations of this chapter shall be an infraction and such persons shall be subject to citation, towing or both. Parking citations may be appealed under Cal. Veh. Code § 40215 et seq. (Ord. 1136 § 3, 2022)