What is being done about homeless people living in RVs and vehicles parked on the street?
What is being done about homeless people living in RVs and vehicles parked on the street?
January 7, 2025
The City of Sebastopol partners with our Homeless Outreach Coordinator and West County Community Services to provide outreach services to all individuals experiencing homelessness in Sebastopol including those living in RV’s or vehicles. This includes locating and providing housing and shelter options, obtaining government identification, and connecting with medical, mental health, and substance use services.
The City of Sebastopol passed the Recreational Vehicle Parking Ordinance in 2022. That ordinance, Chapter 10.76 of the Sebastopol Municipal Code, prohibits the parking of, or being left standing, any recreational vehicle on any public street zoned residential in the City. RV’s are also prohibited from parking or being left standing on any public street that is zoned commercial, industrial, or a community facility between the hours of 7:30 am and 10:00 pm. There are various exceptions to this noted in the ordinance.
A lawsuit was filed against the City challenging various aspects and legalities of the RV Parking Ordinance. The City recently prevailed in that lawsuit, and will began enforcing the RV Parking Ordinance on January 6, 2025. The City will also begin increased enforcement of other parking regulations for all vehicles, including prohibitions on vehicles parking in the same location for longer than 72 hours. Enforcement includes warnings and then tickets, and possibly towing of vehicles under certain circumstances.
In addition, the City will continue enforcing other parking ordinances and vehicular violations that are in effect in the Sebastopol Municipal Code, the California Vehicle Code and the California Health and Safety Code. These include expired registration, not having a license plate, equipment violations when the vehicle is moving such as headlights or taillights not working, broken windshields, leaking vehicle fluids or grey water, speeding or impeding traffic, excessively worn tires, driving while unlicensed to name a few.
