Mayor Jon Mitchell has introduced a city ordinance prohibiting overnight parking of RVs, motorhomes, trailer homes and campers on public streets and city property in New Bedford. In 2024 the city removed 48 abandoned RVs, campers and boats from its streets, but complaints about occupied vehicles persisted. Officials report clusters in the South End on Cleveland and Harbor Streets and in the North End on Coffin Avenue. Under current law the police department lacks authority to order drivers of registered, occupied RVs to move. The proposal would still allow residents to keep RVs in their driveways and to park other trailers on streets while attached to a vehicle.
