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Big Water planners favor CUPs, safety rules for long-term RV occupancy and delay decision to June
Summary
The Big Water Planning and Zoning Commission discussed requiring conditional use permits for long-term recreational vehicle (RV) habitation, favoring up-to-1-year permits with renewal, sanitation and safety standards, and limits on rentals; formal action was continued to the June meeting.
The Big Water Planning and Zoning Commission on May 4 discussed proposed amendments to zoning codes 15.20 and 15.24 aimed at restricting long-term recreational vehicle (RV) occupancy inside town limits and ensuring sanitation, safety and zoning compliance. Commissioners expressed a preference for requiring a conditional use permit (CUP) for RV habitation and continued formal action to the June meeting.
Commission members reviewed a draft CUP that currently sets a 180-day limit and indicated they preferred allowing up to one year with required renewal documentation. The commission discussed limiting RV occupancy to temporary housing on owner-occupied property and prohibiting rentals, including short-term rental uses akin to Airbnb, to prevent RVs being treated as permanent dwellings.
Commissioners and staff focused on infrastructure and public-health safeguards. The discussion recommended that sites subject to a CUP demonstrate adequate sewage or septic capacity and meet electrical and fire-safety requirements before occupancy would be authorized. Enforcement was described as complaint-driven, with oversight by the town zoning administrator and coordination with county health, law enforcement and the fire department.
The commission also considered narrow exceptions that mirror accessory dwelling unit (ADU) concepts, such as temporary family-care housing, but said such uses must meet setback and infrastructure standards. Members debated whether rules should be tied to zoning districts (R1/R2), where RVs are currently allowed for storage only without a CUP, or whether lot-size thresholds would be a better determinant for permitting occupancy.
In discussing temporary allowances, commissioners noted a 72-hour visitor parking window and considered an Iron County-style 16-day camping allowance for short stays. No formal ordinance was adopted; commissioners agreed to return the draft language and proposed revisions for further consideration at the June meeting.
Next steps: staff will revise the draft CUP language and related code amendments, and the commission will revisit the proposal at its June meeting.
