Redondo Beach in LA South Bay considers new RV parking ordinance

Redondo Beach in the Los Angeles South Bay has joined a growing number of cities – both local and national – who are passing increasingly draconian restrictions on RV owners. In some cases these restrictions not only prohibit owners from parking an RV adjacent to their own property but also ban the parking of RV’s on the property itself – a stunning legal overreach by cities which some argue is a clear violation of the property rights of RV owners. In Redondo Beach the administrative report prepared by the Police Department states that "the most prevalent objection to oversized vehicles is that they cause visual blight, restrict views and are aesthetically displeasing." The report also suggests that oversized vehicles pose a public safety problem. Interestingly, the report fails to enumerate the number of complaints that the police department has actually received.
 

RB Ordinance 3060-10 proposes that oversized vehicle parking be limited to twenty hours per day and prohibits all overnight parking on week days. Overnight parking would still be allowed on weekends and holidays - the city defines an oversized vehicle as being greater than 22 feet in length, over seven feet wide and in excess of eight feet in height. The City plans to offer permits to RV owners who need more time to load/unload and otherwise “prep” their vehicles. Guests of Redondo Beach Residents who are visiting in their motorhome may also apply for permits. To facilitate the permit application process permit registration would be made available online.

City officials believe that ordinance 3060-10 and 3061-10 will compel RV owners to find alternative long-term accommodation for their vehicles. However, there is some doubt that residents are the sole cause of this problem. Redondo Beach Police estimate that 30% of oversized vehicles parked in the city are operated by non-residents. However, the number of non-resident owners may in fact be much higher especially if the RB experience mirrors that of cities like Venice Beach where many habitually parked RV's and campers are not in fact owned by city residents.

Redondo Beach is hoping to alleviate the RV parking problem by including a 154 site storage facility in a proposed hotel development on Marine Avenue - see the article: Los Angeles South Bay to gain additional RV storage facility. There is a dearth of such storage facilities in the South Bay - though California Storage Masters has an RV storage facility in El Segundo. Whilst it’s commendable that the City of Redondo appears committed to tackling this thorny issue they might also wish to consider providing affordable residential/vacation RV parking within the city, perhaps along the lines of the facility at Dockweiler State Beach (though with a better pricing structure) – see the article: Dockweiler Beach RV Park.

RV owners who wish to oppose this ordinance should attend the City Council meeting on Tuesday 7th September 6pm-10.30pm. Meetings are held at the Council Chambers, 415 Diamond Street, Redondo Beach, CA 90277. View the proposed agenda .

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