Taking a recreational vehicle or travel trailer on vacation can be fun until it’s time to park it, especially if you’re looking for a parking spot on a city street.
If RV-ers roll into your Redding neighborhood, or if you want to park your own RV on a public North State street, knowing and following street parking laws could mean avoiding a police warning or towing, according to the Redding Police Department.
Here are answers to RV and trailer parking questions for people recreating in Shasta County and other parts of California.
Can my neighbor park an RV near my property?
People can park an RV on a public street in Redding as long as they’re following the same laws for any standard vehicle, said Brenna Fish, Redding community service officer.
That means they’re not blocking an exit, parking in a red zone, etc.
However, there’s a limit to how long an RV or other vehicle can stay in that spot.
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How long can my neighbor park an RV in front of my house?
The time limit a driver can park an RV in the same spot on a Redding street is the same as any vehicle, Fish said; 72 hours.
With respect to etiquette maven Emily Post’s recommendation that old trout and house guests have a three-day expiration period, the law isn’t intended to encourage guests to keep their visits short.
The city assumes visitors, or residents or who otherwise store an RV or trailer on private property, might need as much as three days to park an RV near their front door to load it, air out a stale cabin, dry out damp upholstery or otherwise prepare for a road trip, Fish said.
“With the exception of disabled persons and disabled veterans, no vehicle is exempt from parking regulations, including vehicles with exempt license plates,” according to the Redding Police Department’s parking and abandoned vehicles code.
What if an RV or other vehicle is still parked on a Redding street after 72 hours?
Once their 72 hours are over, Fish recommends drivers move their RV or other vehicle to a parking space on a nearby street or onto their or their host’s property.
If they don’t, Fish said officers usually try to talk directly to the vehicle owner to make sure they know the law. If they refuse to move or ignore the warning, the city may tow their vehicle away.
If that happens the owner will have to pay a base cost for the tow — usually between $265 and $330 — plus a per diem cost for each day the towing company stored the vehicle, she said.
Are RV parking laws in Shasta County the same as California’s?
With the exception of some city and county ordinances, you can park an RV on any California public street where vehicle parking is allowed, Fish said.
One city with an exception to the law, is San Francisco. The City by the Bay’s parking code states the 72-hour rule applies only to “regular-sized” vehicles like passenger cars and motorcycles.
California destinations with no further street parking restriction may still require drivers to re-park a certain distance away from their original spot after the 72-hour period is up. This is usually 1,000 feet.
For more information call the non-emergency/dispatch phone number for the police department or sheriff’s office at your destination to ask about local parking regulations.
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica on Record Searchlight Facebook groups Get Out! Nor Cal , Today in Shasta County and Shaping Redding’s Future. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Is it OK to park an RV near your neighbor’s home in California?
Reporting by Jessica Skropanic, Redding Record Searchlight / Redding Record Searchlight
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