The Seattle City Council voted 8-1 on 20 October to pass a six-bill package regulating parking for motorhomes and travel trailers in which people live. The Vehicle Resident Assistance Program was proposed by councillor Dan Strauss, who represents District 6, including Ballard, Green Lake and Magnolia. The legislation now goes to the mayor for approval.
What changes
- The city will set up a permit system allowing RV owners to park legally on public streets for longer than two hours.
- From 2027, an unpermitted RV may stay on a Seattle street for no more than two hours at a time. Strauss said that by July or August 2027 this would no longer be a permitted use.
- Permit holders must follow all laws, move every 72 hours and park overnight in the industrial zone.
- Unpermitted owners who break the two-hour limit will first receive warnings, then face vehicle impoundment.
- The city will also be able to tow so-called junk vehicles that are not being lived in.
- Seattle will hire eight new staff to issue permits and do outreach to people living in RVs and cars.
Councillors Alexis Mercedes Rinck (citywide Position 8), Dionne Foster (citywide Position 9) and Eddie Lin (District 2, South Seattle) opposed the bill imposing the two-hour limit. Council chambers were nearly full, with 63 people signed up to speak in person and remotely; most opposed the parking limit. Chanel Horner, a volunteer with Stop the Sweeps, said most of the package is good but some of it is scary, and advocates fear residents could lose their homes to towing or impoundment.