Georgia and New Hampshire are the latest states to introduce “RV Friendly” legislation. Georgia Senate Bill 87 and New Hampshire House Bill 418 are pending in committees.

If approved, the bills would allow businesses and tourist attractions to have the “RV Friendly” marker affixed to their logos on highway exit signs.

The “RV Friendly” symbol signifies that a facility is capable of accommodating RVs and has met Federal Highway Administration guidelines to that effect.

“The RV Friendly symbol instantly conveys that a location is safe to enter, has room to park the largest legal RV, and is safe to exit,” said Frank Brodersen, RV Friendly coordinator for FMCA’s Governmental and Legislative Advisory Committee.

In September 2005 the FHA issued interim approval for use of the “RV Friendly” program throughout the United States. Oregon, Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee, Washington, Texas, New Mexico, Michigan and Iowa have adopted it for use in their states.

“Each state controls its own logo signage program,” Brodersen said. “To establish rules and requirements can take up to a year after any legislation or administrative approval is passed.”

The FHA’s minimum requirements for businesses to qualify as “RV Friendly” include:

• Facilities must have hard surfaces that are free of potholes.
• Roadways must be least 12 feet wide with a minimum swing radius of 50 feet for entering and exiting the facility.
• Roadway access and parking facilities must be free of any obstructions up to 14 feet above the surface.
• Businesses offering short-term parking must have two or more spaces that are 12 feet wide and 65 feet long.
• Fueling stations with canopies must have a 14-foot clearance.
• Facilities selling diesel fuel shall have pumps with non-commercial nozzles.

FHA has not finalized the requirements but may do so this year.