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1 UPDATE ON RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
REGULATIONS WITHIN RESIDENTIAL
ZONES
Land Use, Sustainability and Resilience Committee
March 13, 2023
Community & Economic Development Department
RiversideCA.gov
2 BACKGROUND
December 20, 2022
Councilwoman Plascencia requests an update on parking of motorhomes within single-family residential zones
• Best practices
• Code enforcement complaints
• Options for future consideration
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3 Driver’s License Requirements
Noncommercial Class C
May drive & tow recreational vehicles under
certain dimensions and weight rating
Noncommercial Class A or B
May drive & tow recreational vehicles over
specified dimensions with DMV endorsement
Recreational Vehicle: a motorhome, housecar, travel trailer, truck camper, or camp trailer; with or without motive power; designed for human habitation or other occupancy. (CA H & SC § 18010)
CALIFORNIA REGULATIONS
RiversideCA.gov
4 TITLE 19 ZONING CODE
Recreational
Vehicle Regulation
Residential
Conservation (RC)
Residential
Agricultural (RA-5)
Rural Residential
(RR)
Residential
Estate (RE)
Single-Family
Residential (R-1)
Vehicle < 10,000
pounds Permitted Permitted Permitted Permitted Permitted Vehicle > 10,000
pounds X Permitted Permitted Permitted X
I. Recreational Vehicles :
• “A vehicle for non-commercial, recreational use, including a motor home, travel trailer, camper, fifth wheel, boats, watercraft, race cars, off road vehicles, horse trailer or trailers designed to carry recreational vehicles such as watercraft or off-road vehicles.” (Ch. 19.910 – Definitions)
• Regulates vehicles primarily through gross vehicle weight consistent CA DMV regulations and State law
• Cannot be used as living quarters, must be legally registered, operable/moveable as intended
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5 TITLE 19 ZONING CODE
RVs under 10,000lb GVWR
(all Single-Family Zones)
RVs over 10,000lb GVWR
(RA-5, RE and RR Zones only –
20,000 sf-5 acre lots)
Rear Yard (paved
surface)
Side Yard
near Garage
(behind front
wall, min. 15’
wide) Front Yard
and opposite
Side Yard
Driveway
Rear Yard (paved
surface)
Side Yard
near
Garage
Driveway
Front Yard
and opposite
Side Yard
RiversideCA.gov
6 CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY
I. Less than 1% of complaints are related to recreational vehicles in residential zones
II. Volume of cases
• 7 ongoing cases
• 18 total cases in 2022/2023 FY
III. Complaint types
• Majority of complaints are vehicles being used as living quarters
• Minority of complaints related to improper parking of vehicles 5 6
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7 COMMONLY CITED VEHICLES
Recreational vehicles like these are often cited for
improperly parking, exceeding weight limit of
designated zone or are prohibited altogether.
Image source: Thor Motor Coach, Class A Motorhome
Image source: Starcraft RV, Travel Trailer, Autumn Ridge GVWR: 18,000 pounds GVWR: 7,430 pounds
RiversideCA.gov
8 REGIONAL BEST PRACTICES
Allowed in Residential Zones
• All jurisdictions allow in single-family residential zones provided standards are met Location Requirements
• Chino, Claremont and Ontario require screening from public view and paved surface or be enclosed within garage
• Corona, Riverside and West Covina require vehicle be enclosed or on paved surface Other Requirements
• West Covina requires Administrative Use Permit (AUP) for recreational vehicles and findings must be made
• Riverside only jurisdiction to establish permitted locations based on gross vehicular weight rating (GVWR)
• Claremont provides specific size restrictions for certain recreational vehicles Cross-jurisdictional analysis with Chino, Claremont, Corona, Ontario, and West Covina
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9 Committee interested in pursing
Zoning Code changes?
Yes
Staff will need direction on
Zoning Code sections to
explore changes & key
stakeholders
Identify strategy to address
ongoing enforcement
cases
No
Zoning Code remains as is
Enforcement cases
proceed as usual
OPTIONS MOVING FORWARD
RiversideCA.gov
10 Strategic Priority 2 – Community Well Being
Goal 2.3 – Strengthen neighborhood identities and improve community health and the physical environment through amenities and programs that foster an increased sense of community and enhanced feelings of pride and belonging citywide.
Strategic Priority 5 – High Performing Government
Goal 5.3 - Enhance communication and collaboration with community members to improve transparency, build public trust, and encourage shared decision-making.
Cross-Cutting Threads
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
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11 That the Land Use, Sustainability, and Resilience Committee:
1.RECEIVE AND FILE an update on the City’s zoning regulations and regional best practices related to recreational vehicles within residential zones; and
2.PROVIDE staff with direction on changes for future
consideration.
RECOMMENDATIONS
11