Chapter 17.108
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE PARKS
Sections:
17.108.020 Recreational vehicle defined.
17.108.030 Recreational vehicle lot defined.
17.108.040 Recreational vehicle park defined.
17.108.050 Sanitary station or sanitary dumping station defined.
17.108.060 Recreational vehicle park requirements.
17.108.010 Purpose.
The recreational vehicle park regulations in this chapter are intended to supplement standards adopted by the Bellingham-Whatcom County district department of public health, to establish city standards for, and to restrict the location of, this type of development, to assure compatibility with other allowable uses in the urban environment. (Ord. 2554 § 3, 2003)
17.108.020 Recreational vehicle defined.
A. “Recreational vehicle” means a vehicular-type unit designed for temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use, which either has its own motive power or is mounted on or drawn by another vehicle and which has a body width of no more than eight feet and a body length of no more than 35 feet when factory-equipped for the road.
1. “Dependent RV” means an RV not containing sanitary facilities and/or devices for connecting said facilities to a community waste disposal system.
2. “Independent RV” means an RV containing sanitary facilities and devices for connecting said facilities to a community waste disposal system.
B. “Recreational vehicle” shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
1. “Travel trailer” means a vehicular portable structure built on a chassis and drawn by a motorized vehicle and which is designed to be used as a temporary dwelling for travel, recreational and vacation uses.
2. “Camper” means a structure designed to be mounted on a truck chassis for use as a temporary dwelling for travel, recreational and vacation uses.
3. “Motor home” means a portable, temporary dwelling to be used for travel, recreational and vacation use constructed as an integral part of a self-propelled vehicle.
4. “Camping trailer” means a folding structure mounted on wheels and designed for travel, recreational and vacation uses. (Ord. 2554 § 3, 2003)
17.108.030 Recreational vehicle lot defined.
“Recreational vehicle lot” means a designated and defined parcel of land within a recreational vehicle park intended for temporary location of a recreational vehicle as a dwelling unit. (Ord. 2554 § 3, 2003)
17.108.040 Recreational vehicle park defined.
“Recreational vehicle park” means a recreational park or portion thereof designed for exclusive occupancy by recreational vehicles. (Ord. 2554 § 3, 2003)
17.108.050 Sanitary station or sanitary dumping station defined.
“Sanitary station” or “sanitary dumping station” means a facility used for removing and disposing of wastes from recreational vehicle sewage holding tanks. (Ord. 2554 § 3, 2003)
17.108.060 Recreational vehicle park requirements.
The design and operation of recreational vehicle parks shall comply with the following:
A. The minimum size of the recreational vehicle park shall be three acres.
B. The maximum gross density allowed shall be one recreational vehicle space per each 1,000 square feet of land area.
C. No less than eight percent of the total site area shall be provided as defined recreational space. The recreation space shall be easily accessible and shall be improved and maintained in such a manner so as to provide adequate recreational facilities for the residents of the recreational vehicle park.
D. Each recreational vehicle space shall have a minimum width of 20 feet.
E. Interior private streets shall observe the following minimums:
1. Twelve feet of width per each travel lane and eight feet of width per each parking lane;
2. Improvement with bituminous surface treatment (BST) in accordance with the specifications of the public works director. In addition, all streets shall be well drained, well lighted and continuously maintained in operable condition.
F. Spacing between Units. There shall be a minimum side-to-side dimension of eight feet between units and a minimum end-to-end dimension of 10 feet between units.
G. Minimum Setbacks Required. The following setback requirements shall apply:
1. Fifteen feet from a public street;
2. Five feet from an interior private street;
3. Twenty feet from the park boundary.
H. Off-Street Parking. A minimum of one off-street parking space shall be required for each recreational vehicle space. It shall be located within the recreational vehicle space. In addition, one off-street parking space per each three recreational vehicle spaces shall be required for guest parking. The guest parking spaces shall be grouped and distributed evenly throughout the park.
I. Pedestrian Walkways. Pedestrian walkways having a width of not less than three feet shall be provided from the recreational vehicle spaces to all service buildings and facilities, refuse collection area and recreation areas. The walkways shall be hard-surfaced, well drained and well lighted.
J. Landscaping. Adequate landscaping to enhance and beautify the recreational vehicle park as well as minimize noise and visual problems shall be provided.
K. Limit of Stay. No recreational vehicle shall remain in place in a recreational vehicle park for more than 120 days in any one-year period.
L. Solid Waste Disposal. The storage, collection and disposal of solid waste in recreational vehicle parks shall be so conducted as to create no health hazards, rodent harborage, insect breeding areas, or accident or fire hazards. Individual or grouped refuse containers must be screened from view except on collection day.
M. Utilities. The following requirements for utilities shall apply:
1. A water supply system shall be provided in the recreational vehicle park for each recreational vehicle space designed to accommodate the park user occupying a self-contained recreational vehicle or a dependent recreational vehicle and shall be connected to a public water supply system. The water system for a recreational vehicle park shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with all applicable state and local codes and regulations.
2. Watering Stations. Each recreational vehicle park shall be provided with one or more easily accessible water supply outlets for filling recreational vehicle water storage tanks.
3. Sewage Disposal System. An adequate and safe sewage disposal system shall be provided in a recreational vehicle park for each recreational vehicle space designed to accommodate the park user occupying a self-contained recreational vehicle or a dependent recreational vehicle park and shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with all applicable state and local codes.
4. Sanitary Stations. Each recreational vehicle park shall be provided with sanitary dumping stations in the ratio of one for every 100 recreational vehicle spaces or fractional part thereof. Sanitary stations shall consist of at least a trapped four-inch sewer riser pipe connected to the sewage disposal system and surrounded at the inlet end by a concrete apron sloped to the drain and provided with a suitable hinged cover, and a water outlet, with the necessary appurtenances connected to the water supply system to permit periodic washdown of the immediate adjacent areas. A sign shall be posted near the water outlet indicating that this water is for flushing and cleaning purposes only. Sanitary stations shall be screened from other activities by a visual barrier such as fences, walls or natural growth and shall be separated from any recreational vehicle space by a distance of not less than 50 feet.
5. Electrical Supply System. Each recreational vehicle park shall be provided with an underground electrical system which shall be installed and maintained in accordance with all applicable state and local codes and regulations.
6. Other Utility Systems. If other utility systems such as natural gas, television cable, or telephone are installed in a recreational vehicle park, such installation shall be in accordance with state and local codes and regulations.
N. All recreational vehicle parks shall comply with rules and regulations of the Washington State Board of Health and county health department.
O. All recreational vehicle spaces shall be well marked and numbered. (Ord. 2692 § 3(1), 2008; Ord. 2673 § 2, 2007; Ord. 2554 § 3, 2003)
17.108.070 Appeals.
Appeals of a final decision shall be submitted pursuant to BMC 17.06.180, Appeals. (Ord. 2673 § 2, 2007)