Background

Aug. 30, 2006 — update

Oceanside City Council on Aug. 16 enacted two ordinances that address the parking of oversized vehicles.

One of the ordinances amended traffic code to include regulations for oversized vehicle parking on city streets. The other modified off-street parking provisions in residential areas.

Traffic code ordinance
The new traffic ordinance prohibits an RV from parking on streets for more than 72 hours. After the 72-hour period, the vehicle must be moved at least one-half mile from its original location for at least 24 hours.

A resident may request a 72-hour extension permit to park on the street. Limit: four times per year per vehicle.

The new ordinance defines an oversized vehicle as one that exceeds 22 feet in length or 84 inches in width, or 84 inches in height.

The previous law prohibited oversized vehicles, including RVs, from parking on streets for more than 72 hours without having been moved one-tenth of a mile.

Zoning ordinance
Oceanside’s former zoning ordinance prohibited vehicles from parking in a front, side or rear yard setback area except on an approved driveway.

The zoning code was amended to permit RVs to park in a side or rear yard setback area if certain guidelines are met:

• Vehicles must be parked behind a 6-foot-high view-obscuring fence.
• Vehicles must be parked on an acceptable surface of gravel, brick or other paved surface.
• Vehicles or portions thereof, which are visible from public or adjacent private property, must be maintained in good appearance and condition, free of rust, dilapidated tarps or coverings, or deteriorated paint.
• Vehicles must not block exterior windows or doors of habitable space in a dwelling.
• Vehicles must not block access to utility boxes or meters.
• At least on 36-inch clear side yard access aisle must be maintained to the rear yard.
• Owners of 51 percent or more of the land in a defined planning neighborhood or subdivisions may file for an exemption to the front yard parking limitations. To do so, the owner must submit an Application for Exemption to the Community Development Department. The owner must provide a supporting petition with the required number of property owner signatures.

History
In 2004 city council directed the planning commission to organize an ad-hoc RV parking committee to review regulations for oversized vehicle parking. The committee met seven times from Aug. 23, 2005, to April 18, 2006, resulting in the new ordinances.

According to a planning commission report, the changes will provide flexibility for residents and visitors while promoting a balanced need to promote community character and safety.

Without the changes, the report said, the continued visual effect of large vehicles on neighborhood streets and on private property will continue to detract from the character of the city’s neighborhoods.

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Aug. 2, 2006 — update

The Oceanside Planning Commission will present its RV parking recommendations to city council on Aug. 2.

The commission, on June 26, approved a proposal that involves changes to municipal traffic code and zoning law.

An existing city ordinance allows RVs to be parked on city streets for up to 72 hours without moving. The commission’s proposal would require the vehicles, after 72 hours, to be moved at least a half-mile away, instead of the tenth of a mile required by the current law.

Residents would be allowed to keep their vehicles in their driveways for 72 hours, rather than the current 48 hours.

Up to four times per year, a resident may request a 72-hour extension permit.
The proposed changes would allow RV parking in side yards and backyards, which is prohibited under existing law. An RV parked in the backyard must be screened by a 6-foot-high fence. In the side yard, a 3-foot-wide access aisle to the rear yard must be maintained.

RVs would be banned from parking in front yards.

Residents from one part of town complained about this restriction. They said they needed to park in their driveways because they have narrow driveways, narrow side yards and single-car garages. And neighborhood streets are too narrow for safe RV parking, the residents claimed.

A city official commented that the neighborhood could possibly get an exemption if 51 percent of the residents supported it.

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May 8, 2006

City of Oceanside
www.ci.oceanside.ca.us