Council introduces first reading of ordinance to define recreational vehicles and clarify oversized-vehicle rules

Aliso Viejo council members voted to introduce for first reading an ordinance amending municipal code sections that govern oversized-vehicle parking.

Assistant City Attorney Hongdao Nguyen told the council staff identified a gap: while the municipal code referenced recreational vehicles in places, it lacked a clear definition. "Recreational vehicles are those vehicles with the width in excess of 84 inches as measured at the widest portion of the body, but not including mirrors or other extensions," Nguyen said, and staff also proposed clarifications on what constitutes "active loading or unloading," including a period not to exceed 12 hours.

Nguyen said the proposed changes are intended to improve enforcement and clarity rather than create new categories of prohibited vehicles. She noted existing oversized-vehicle categories remain in the code, including length-based and weight-based definitions (for example, vehicles longer than 24 feet or heavier than 10,000 pounds) and categories for trailers and semi-trailers.

Council members asked whether the definition would capture travel campers and whether the revised language would produce enforcement parity across neighborhoods. Nguyen replied the RV definition is distinct from separate camper/tow regulations already in the code and that staff would review the interaction between the sections as the ordinance proceeds.

After questions, a council member moved to introduce the ordinance for first reading. The motion passed on a roll-call vote without recorded dissent.

As introduced, the ordinance defines recreational vehicles by width and clarifies a 12-hour cap for active loading/unloading on city streets; the council did not adopt final passage at this meeting and will consider subsequent readings consistent with the council's ordinance schedule.