18.50.190 Recreational vehicles – Parking, storage, and habitation.
(1) The parking or storage of recreational vehicles, except for loading and unloading activities completed within a three-day period within any given two-week period, is not permitted unless there is compliance with the following:
(a) The recreational vehicle is housed within a vented garage or within a carport which is sight-screened from abutting properties by solid board fencing or sight-obscuring landscaping at least six feet in height.
(b) The recreational vehicle may be located within a side or rear yard if in compliance with setback requirements applicable to accessory structures and sight-screened from abutting properties by solid board fencing or sight-obscuring landscaping at least six feet in height. The recreational vehicle does not need to be parked on an approved impervious surface if parked within a side or rear yard.
(c) If there is no reasonable access to a rear or side yard, one recreational vehicle may be located in the front yard driveway as follows:
(i) In the driveway perpendicular to the right-of-way, provided setback requirements applicable to the primary structure are met.
(ii) A recreational vehicle stored under this subsection (1)(c) must be licensed and operable.
(2) For purposes of this section, all sides of a property which abut a right-of-way constitute a front yard.
(3) It is a violation of this section to sleep in, or use for any other habitation or residential purposes, a recreation vehicle or boat parked, placed, or situated on private property for more than 14 days in any 90-day period, except as allowed by subsections (4), (5), and (6) of this section. Should there be any discrepancy between the provisions of subsections (4), (5), and (6) of this section and Chapter 18.85 CMC, Nonconformance, Temporary Uses, and Re-Use of Facilities, the provisions of subsections (4), (5), and (6) of this section shall prevail.
(4) One recreational vehicle may be used as a temporary dwelling on a lot already containing another dwelling unit for a period not to exceed 30 days upon issuance of a temporary use permit by the City pursuant to the provisions of this subsection and CMC 18.85.100.
(a) The temporary use permit issued must be affixed to the recreational vehicle in such a manner that it is prominently displayed and visible, to the extent possible, from a public right-of-way.
(b) Recreational vehicles meeting the requirements of this subsection may be parked within a front yard driveway, need not be sight-screened, and need not comply with accessory structure setback requirements for the effective period of the temporary use permit.
(c) No more than one temporary use permit may be granted for a given property within any six-month period.
(5) As to recreational vehicles only, the requirements of this section shall not apply to a residence if one or more occupants thereof has a current windshield placard or special license plate issued to them by the State of Washington as a qualified disabled person in accordance with RCW 46.19.010. Persons claiming this exemption shall apply to the Director for approval thereof. The Director shall establish procedures and standards for acting on exemption requests hereunder. Only one recreational vehicle per residence may be exempted under this provision.
(6) Based on a written request, the Director may permit a recreational vehicle of any size to be used as a temporary dwelling on a single-family residential lot where the primary dwelling unit is unsafe to occupy by reason of disaster or accident such as fire, wind, earthquake, or other similar circumstance, provided:
(a) The recreational vehicle may be occupied for a maximum of 12 months from the date the primary dwelling was damaged. One 12-month extension may be granted by the Director based on demonstration of continuing hardship and documented good faith efforts to complete construction.
(b) Occupancy of the recreational vehicle shall cease within 30 days of issuance of a certificate of occupancy for reconstruction of the primary dwelling unit at the property.
(c) The recreational vehicle may be located within the required front yard setback but may not obstruct sight distance at driveways and intersections. The recreational vehicle may not be in required side or rear yard setbacks.
(d) Generators shall not be utilized.
(e) The Director’s approval is revocable at any time if the requirements of this section are not met.
(f) The Director shall provide a copy of the approval letter to the applicant, property owner (if different from the applicant), and all adjoining property owners. (Ord. 05-16 § 1 (Exh. A))