PR passes RV ordinance

PRIEST RIVER — A months-long conversation came to head last week as City Council members voted in approval of a new occupied recreational vehicle ordinance.

Before passing Ordinance 601, council members made one change to the draft to increase the time an occupied RV can reside on a property within city limits to seven days. The draft ordinance called for no more than three days, however council members reconsidered after receiving a citizen request asking the city to consider extending the provision to two weeks, to allow a longer stay for family members visiting from out of town.

“I am OK with a week ... I am not OK with two weeks, though,” said councilwoman Candy Turner.

The rest of the council members agreed that a week would be preferable to the three-day limit as well. The new ordinance puts two main restrictions on occupied recreational vehicles.

The first restriction makes it unlawful for any landowner to have an occupied RV on their property for more than seven consecutive days. Under the second restriction, occupied RVs are not allowed on city right of way for any length of time. An occupied RV is defined under the ordinance as a recreational vehicle being utilized in any manner other than storage.

One exception under the ordinance is a seasonal exception, which allows landowners of a parcel that does not have a dwelling to have an occupied RV on the property from May 15 through Sept. 15. The RV, however, must be connected to city water and be currently registered. Also, a temporary occupancy exception allows landowners to have an occupied RV on their property for one year after the first issuance of a building permit for a single-family residence.

Any landowner who allows an occupied RV on their property for more than seven days, or anyone who has an occupied RV on city right of way, will be subject to a misdemeanor.

City clerk and treasurer Laurel Thomas prepared a newsletter that will be sent out to residents, outlining the provisions of the ordinance, as well as the city’s snow removal policy and other information.

Under the snow removal policy, parking is prohibited within six feet of the normally traveled portion of any city street in residential areas after snowfall. Also, residents should not shovel, plow, or blow snow from their driveway or public sidewalks into the street.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.