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Towing capacity, statutory hold and enforcement limits slow removal of unauthorized RVs, council says
Summary
Neighborhood leaders reported clusters of RVs and slow removals; council members said towing contractors have limited storage and must hold vehicles 15 days by statute, the city code limits street parking of RVs to short loading/unloading windows, and callers should report encampments to 311 or SPD.
Neighborhood representatives told the District 2 town hall that camps and parked RVs are concentrated in parts of the city and that removals have been uneven.
Doug Trudeau, chair of the East Central Neighborhood Council, said volunteers counted roughly 30 RVs in one sweep and that while some owners could use RV parks, others appear abandoned or involved in suspected drug activity. "There's 1 right over here that's just it should just be removed because there's nobody living there or anything. It's just left there, and it's been there for over 6 months according to neighbors," Trudeau said.
Council members described operational constraints. One council member said the contracted towing company has limited storage capacity and "statutorily have to hold on to them for 15 days," which creates a backlog. Council member Cathcart said city law restricts RVs on city streets: "the law actually prohibits any RVs ... from being parked on city streets. It can only be parked for up to 24 hours and only while loading and unloading," and noted enforcement is complaint‑driven.
Residents asked how far an RV must be moved to reset the parked‑too‑long clock. Transportation staff and council members said the city believes the vehicle must be moved at least a block (block face), but they committed to check and provide a definitive rule.
Council members encouraged residents to report unauthorized camping and parked RVs through 311 and SPD to ensure cases are recorded. They also said the city prioritizes some removals and that storage capacity at the contracted tow yard has limited the pace of clearances.
No change to the underlying ordinances was taken at the town hall; council members said they are continuing enforcement under existing rules and asked residents to file complaints so cases are entered into the city's system.
