Over the last two years we have seen a rapid proliferation of recreational vehicles (RVs) used as dwellings on city streets. Many of these are rented out by so-called “vanlords” who collect rent from tenants without providing any of the services a legitimate landlord is required to offer.
In addition to the health and sanitation issues arising from people living in parked vehicles without running water or hygienic waste disposal, many of these vehicles endanger public safety by hosting criminal activities, including drug trafficking and prostitution. While the Department of Transportation Is authorized to tow inoperable vehicles if they are unoccupied, it cannot legally remove a vehicle if people are currently living in it.
The City Council has now directed the City Attorney to draft an ordinance effectively prohibiting the owners of recreational vehicles (RVs) parked on the public right of way from renting them out, and providing for an escalating series of fines for RV owners who violate the restriction. A second ordinance has been requested clarifying where RVs may park legally and where they may not.
While these ordinances will not immediately solve all the problems associated with RVs parked on city streets, aggressive fines and enforcement could make the business of renting out vans unprofitable and put the vanlords out of business.