Broomfield council advances tighter RV parking limits, adds 7‑day visitor permits and humanitarian outreach requirement

BROOMFIELD — The City and County of Broomfield moved forward Monday on a controversial ordinance restricting long‑term parking of recreational and oversized vehicles on public streets, voting 9–0 on second reading of Ordinance 2293 as amended and scheduling a third reading to finalize substantive permit rules.

The ordinance, as revised, would limit long‑term parking of major recreational vehicles on public streets, keep in place a prohibition on living or sleeping in RVs on the right of way, and add two council‑approved measures intended to balance neighborhood impacts with residents’ needs. Council unanimously adopted a new 7‑day visitor permit for RVs and approved an amendment requiring staff to provide resource information and outreach before issuing a removal notice. A separate 28‑day “green pass” compliance permit for people in hardship or with mechanical failures was tabled so staff can return with clearer definitions and enforcement guidelines for third reading.

Brandon Murray, the city’s code compliance manager, told the council the proposal responds to resident complaints about prolonged RV parking, safety hazards and visual impacts. He reviewed enforcement data showing 99 total RV‑related violations in 2025 and described a stepped process that begins with education and a courtesy notice and can escalate to administrative citations or towing when compliance is not achieved. “Our primary unit for enforcement is the code compliance unit in the Broomfield Police Department,” Murray said, adding that most cases are resolved before formal citations are needed.

Members of the public filled the chamber during the hearing and gave sharply divided testimony. Supporters of the ordinance said limits are needed to address safety and quality‑of‑life problems when vehicles sit for long periods. An opponent, Connie Taylor, who said she lost her home after becoming seriously ill, urged the council to consider the basic needs of people living in vehicles and asked where they would go if parked vehicles are banned.

“I realize they’re starting out with RVs… but eventually it will get to cars,” Taylor said, urging a humane approach. Multiple social‑service providers and volunteers from local nonprofits told council that current safe‑parking capacity is very limited and asked the city to pair any regulatory approach with more shelter options and outreach.

Council member Andy McKenzie, who sponsored the amendments, said the visitor permit is aimed at legitimate, short‑term guests and would allow limited temporary hookups (water and electric) with protected cable covers and a cap on repeat use. “This provides optionality but not obligation to provide enforcement,” McKenzie said, explaining the intent to balance enforcement with compassion.

Traffic engineering and staff outlined how a permit process could be administered and suggested a modest fee could be considered when the proposal returns for third reading. The council unanimously passed the visitor‑permit amendment and the humanitarian outreach amendment but agreed to let staff and the city attorney refine definitions such as “neighborhood” and “financial hardship” before the ordinance reaches its next hearing.

Because council approved substantive amendments on second reading, city rules require a third reading and full publication; staff will return with clarified language and administrative details. Murray said outreach and the city’s current safe‑parking partners will continue to be available while the council finalizes the ordinance.