Council adopts 72-hour recreational-vehicle parking limit; authorizes nuisance fund coverage and five-year reporting

The Snohomish County Council on April 30 approved two ordinances to restrict long-term parking of recreational vehicles on county roads, set enforcement procedures, and make enforcement costs eligible for reimbursement from the county nuisance property fund.

Nicole Gourley, council staff, said ordinance 25-021 would add a new chapter (SCC 11.06) to prohibit recreational vehicles from parking on county roads for more than 72 hours without moving. Under the ordinance, a law-enforcement officer may place a notice on a vehicle; the vehicle then has 72 hours from the time of the notice to move. If the vehicle fails to move within that period, the officer may impound it at their discretion. Gourley also explained that ordinance 25-022 would amend the nuisance property abatement fund under SCC 4.121 to allow costs incurred for enforcement of SCC 11.06 to be eligible fund expenses.

An amendment proposed by the ordinance sponsor would require an annual sheriff’s report for five years that lists the number of impoundments under the new code section and provides a detailed accounting of costs incurred; the report would be repealed after five years unless reenacted. Chair Nearing introduced that amendment; the council voted to approve the amendment, then voted to adopt the underlying ordinances.

Council discussion addressed the scope of eligible costs. A council member asked whether officer time would be included. In reply, a staff speaker and a person identified as Jared indicated the intent was to cover costs the sheriff’s office otherwise would not have had; one speaker said officer time "probably would not count" toward eligible costs. Council member Peterson noted the ordinance could affect people living in RVs but said she supported the measure because of coordination between the sheriff’s office and the county and the availability of an FAQ and outreach resources.

No members of the public spoke during the testimony period. The council approved proposed amendment sheet 1 and then passed ordinance 25-021 by a 5-0 roll-call vote; ordinance 25-022 also passed by a 5-0 vote. The vote record shows Vice Chair Dunn, Council member Mead, Council member Low, Council member Peterson and Chair Nearing all voted in favor. The council and sponsor indicated the annual report would allow the county to track use and costs and make future adjustments if necessary.