RV, Boat, Trailer Parking Limits Studied

An ordinance that would prohibit residents from parking motor homes, boats or trailers in their front driveways is expected to be voted on Tuesday by the Palos Verdes Estates City Council.

The law would cover motor homes 18 feet or longer, as well as boats and trailers of any length, according to City Manager James Hendrickson.

Motor homes, boats and trailers that are garaged or stored in any other structure with a roof and walls would be exempt from the law. Homeowners could also store the vehicles or trailers in back of their residences, providing they are hidden from their neighbors’ view.

Under existing law, motor homes and boats can be parked on city streets for up to 72 hours.

The city also has a 24-year-old ordinance making it illegal for anyone to park a motor home in a front driveway for longer than 48 hours. However, police find it difficult to enforce the law because it is hard to prove that a vehicle has not been moved within the two-day period.

The new ordinance was drafted after several residents complained that neighbors were parking motor homes in front of their houses for long periods of time, Hendrickson said. The residents believe the vehicles are unsightly.

Under the proposed ordinance, motor home owners could obtain city permission to park their vehicles in their driveway for a day or longer to load or unload it.

Also, a permit could be obtained once a year that would allow the owner to park the vehicle in the driveway for up to a week. That provision is aimed at residents who may use their motor homes as an extra bedroom for visitors.

The ordinance calls for violators to be fined $100.