Council OKs vanlording ban

"With little discussion council approved a pair of ordinances - one that would make it illegal to leave a trailer that's not attached to a vehicle on a city street and another that would outlaw the practice of renting out an RV parked on the street. Under the vanlording ordinance, it would be illegal to rent out an RV as a living space, store an RV that you plan to lease on the street or charge someone for a street parking spot."

"Councilwoman Julie Lythcott-Haims voted no, saying that she gets the outrage over the increase in RVs in town, she's concerned about the lack of progress in figuring out where RV dwellers ought to go. Many who Lythcott-Haims has spoken to work in town and nearby, but can't afford rent, so they live in RVs. She wants to see an increase in lots for RVs, which she said is the greater challenge in dealing with the RVs on the streets."

"The ban begins immediately and carries a fine of $500 under a new penalty schedule that's also on the docket. While the ban on detached trailers begins right away, police won't enforce it until two weeks after signs outlining the new rules are posted. The city, which already prohibits cars from being parked for more than 72 hours, hopes to start putting up signs in December and have the project completed by the spring. Both ordinances are part of council's push to prevent people from living in RVs on city streets."

Palo Alto enacted two ordinances to prohibit leaving detached trailers on city streets and renting out RVs as living spaces or for profit on streets. The vanlording ordinance bans charging for street parking, storing RVs intended for lease on the street, and renting RVs as residences. Violations carry a $500 fine; trailer prohibitions begin immediately but enforcement waits two weeks after signage installation. One council member opposed the measures citing the absence of affordable RV lots and concern for workers living in RVs. The city plans signage in December, aims to finish by spring, and will pursue safe parking, sanitation, street bans, and permitting.

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