Chapter 17.144
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE PARKS AND CAMPGROUNDS
Sections:
Article I. Scope - Administration
17.144.010 Purpose and applicability.
Article II. Standards
17.144.060 Caretaker accommodations.
Article III. Required Improvements
17.144.090 Electric utilities.
17.144.100 Screening and buffering.
17.144.120 Access and circulation.
Prior legislation: Ords. 1173, 1175 and 1269.
Article I. Scope - Administration
17.144.010 Purpose and applicability.
This chapter establishes a permitting process for recreational vehicle parks and campgrounds that create two or more camping sites for purposes of transient accommodations.
Recreational vehicle parks and campgrounds that create camping sites which may be leased individually, and the membership of that camping site may be transferred to another person, shall be considered master planned resorts and must comply with Chapter 17.20E LCC, Master Planned Resorts. [Ord. 1348 (Exhs. F, G), 2023]
17.144.020 Administration.
(1) Recreational vehicle parks and campgrounds shall be processed as a Type III special use permit application per Chapter 17.05 LCC, General Provisions.
(2) Recreational vehicle parks and campgrounds that exceed the maximum density standards listed in LCC 17.144.040 shall be administered as master planned resorts and must comply with Chapter 17.20E LCC, Master Planned Resorts.
(3) Existing legal nonconforming recreational vehicle parks or campgrounds are allowed to persist in accordance with Chapter 17.155 LCC, Nonconforming Uses and Parcels.
(4) Revisions to approved recreational vehicle parks and campgrounds shall proceed in compliance with the regulations and standards in Chapter 17.158 LCC, Special Use Permits, in effect at the time of complete project application.
(5) Revisions to existing legal nonconforming recreational vehicle parks or campgrounds shall proceed in compliance with the regulations and standards in Chapter 17.155 LCC, Nonconforming Uses and Parcels, in effect at the time of complete project application.
(6) Existing recreational vehicle parks or campgrounds that were permitted through the binding site plan process and found to be in violation of the binding site plan shall be subject to the noncompliance and violation provisions in Chapter 17.07 LCC, Violations and Civil Penalties. [Ord. 1348 (Exhs. F, G), 2023]
Article II. Standards
17.144.030 General.
(1) In the event of a discrepancy between the standards established herein and those contained in any other applicable plan, control, or ordinance, the stricter standard shall apply.
(2) Every camping site shall be, or consist of, at least 500 square feet.
(3) All camping sites are subject to a minimum 10-foot setback between camping sites.
(4) All structures, except cabins or yurts, are subject to a minimum 10-foot setback from any camping site.
(5) All structures are subject to a minimum five-foot setback from any other structure, regardless of the size of the structure.
(6) Each camping site shall be numbered, and the number shall be prominently displayed on the camping site.
(7) Camping sites, caretaker accommodations, common facilities and accessory uses shall be maintained in functional and working condition. [Ord. 1348 (Exhs. F, G), 2023]
17.144.040 Density.
(1) A recreational vehicle park or campground may occupy a single parcel, or combination of parcels under common ownership, of which at least one parcel shall be a minimum of two and one-half acres; provided, a larger minimum parcel size may be required by the state or local departments for septage disposal, stormwater management, public water supply or applicable development regulations.
(2) Maximum density shall be:
(a) No more than 15 camping sites per acre when a community septage system with individual camping site connections or individual holding tanks for each camping site is provided.
(b) No more than seven camping sites per acre when a central septage dump station is provided with no individual camping site connections or individual holding tanks for each camping site.
(c) Permanent cabins or yurts may be included.
(i) The total number of cabins or yurts shall not exceed 25 percent of the total proposed camping sites. When calculations result in a fraction, the result is rounded down to the nearest whole number. For example, if there are 25 total camping sites, six of those may be occupied by a cabin or yurt. If a cabin or yurt is provided as caretaker accommodations, that cabin or yurt shall be counted towards the total number of cabins or yurts allowed.
(ii) The total floor area of each cabin or yurt shall not exceed 400 square feet, except a cabin or yurt provided as caretaker accommodations.
(iii) A cabin or yurt shall be completely contained within a single camping site.
(iv) Cabins must connect to a designed septic system when required by Lewis County public health and social services.
(d) For campgrounds that create sites for tent camping only, or other similar accommodations, and no recreational vehicles will be accommodated at the campground, then a maximum density of 25 camping spaces per acre is allowed, except that one camping site may be provided for caretaker accommodations.
(3) No more than one recreational vehicle may occupy a camping site at any given time. Camping sites occupied by a recreational vehicle may also be occupied by no more than one passenger vehicle and one appurtenance (e.g., a boat, an awning, etc.) at any given time.
(4) Camping sites that are occupied by a tent(s) may also be occupied by no more than three passenger vehicles or two passenger vehicles and one appurtenance (a boat, an easy-up, etc.) at any given time. Recreational vehicles are not allowed to occupy tent-only camping sites. [Ord. 1348 (Exhs. F, G), 2023]
17.144.050 Length of stay.
(1) The maximum number of consecutive days that a camping site shall be occupied by the same party in a recreational vehicle or tent is 210 days, except one camping site may be permanently occupied by a caretaker, ranger, manager or similar role. Recreational vehicle parks and campgrounds that allow stays longer than 210 consecutive days shall be administered as a mobile home park and must be compliant with Chapter 15.30 LCC, Mobile Home Parks.
(2) The maximum number of consecutive days that a cabin or yurt shall be occupied by the same party is 30 days, except one cabin or yurt may be permanently occupied by a caretaker, ranger, manager or similar role. [Ord. 1348 (Exhs. F, G), 2023]
17.144.060 Caretaker accommodations.
Accommodations for use by a recreational vehicle park or campground caretaker, ranger, manager or similar role is allowed. Caretaker accommodations may include a recreational vehicle, a new cabin or yurt, or an existing single-family residence or accessory dwelling unit. Caretaker accommodations are not subject to the length of stay limitations of LCC 17.144.050.
(1) No more than one caretaker accommodation per development is allowed.
(2) The total floor area of a new cabin or yurt provided as caretaker accommodations shall not exceed 1,296 square feet in size.
(3) Caretaker accommodations must connect to a designed septic system when required by Lewis County public health and social services.
(4) An existing single-family residence or accessory dwelling unit used as caretaker accommodations does not count towards the total number of cabins or yurts allowed in LCC 17.144.040. [Ord. 1348 (Exhs. F, G), 2023]
17.144.070 Accessory uses.
Accessory uses such as offices, maintenance sheds, swimming pools, playgrounds, restaurants, convenience stores less than 2,500 square feet, recreation facilities and other similar structures are allowed outright when directly connected with and in aid of the recreational vehicle park or campground. Accessory uses are required to be completely within the boundaries of the recreational vehicle park or campground. Accessory uses must connect to a designed septic system when required by Lewis County public health and social service. [Ord. 1348 (Exhs. F, G), 2023]
Article III. Required Improvements
17.144.080 Fire protection.
(1) Water supply adequate for fire protection is required and shall be consistent with the International Fire Code, fire district recommendations, and applicable state and local laws.
(2) An approved firefighting vehicle and/or other permanent firefighting devices or equipment shall be installed within the confines of recreational vehicle parks or campgrounds when required by either the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Forest Service, the appropriate local fire district, or county fire marshal.
(3) No more than one fire pit per campsite is allowed. See Figure 1 of this section.
(a) The fire pit must be no wider than three feet in diameter and have a ring constructed of metal, concrete, stone, or brick at least eight inches above ground grade.
(b) There must be an additional area surrounding the fire pit with a minimum two-foot width constructed of noncombustible material, such as concrete, rock, brick, or cement blocks.
(c) All fire pits must be equipped with a spark arresting screen or similar device.
(d) Trees, tree limbs and shrubs must be cleared within 10 feet in all directions around a fire pit.
Figure 1: Minimum Fire Pit Dimensions
(4) Fire break trails shall be provided around the periphery of the development when required by either the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Forest Service, the local fire district, the county fire marshal or hearings examiner. [Ord. 1348 (Exhs. F, G), 2023]
17.144.090 Electric utilities.
No recreational vehicle park or campground shall be serviced by overhead utilities, and all electrical utilities associated with or incidental to the development of camping sites or other facilities and accessory uses shall be designed, installed and maintained in conformance with the rules, regulations, and standards of the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. [Ord. 1348 (Exhs. F, G), 2023]
17.144.100 Screening and buffering.
The purpose of screening and buffering is to protect the adjacent properties or roadways from unsightliness, visual distraction and/or noise impacts. The buffer area may be reduced where it can be demonstrated that alternative screening can adequately accomplish the purposes stated in this subsection.
(1) Screening and buffering areas shall be established with a minimum width of 25 feet along all exterior property lines. If a recreational trail is included in the buffer, the minimum width must be no less than 50 feet along all exterior property lines that contain such a trail.
(2) Screening and buffering may include fences, vegetation, earth berms, waterbodies or a combination of these methods.
(3) The screening shall be at least six feet high and shall obscure at least 80 percent visibility of all structures and improvements as seen from rights-of-way and adjacent properties, except when the buffer or a portion of the buffer is comprised of a waterbody, then the waterbody may be considered screening.
(4) Screening and buffering areas shall not contain any constructed facilities or structures, erected or placed, with the exception of utility lines, fencing, security posts or trails.
(5) Setbacks from adjacent resource lands must be in conformance with Chapter 17.30 LCC, Resource Lands. [Ord. 1348 (Exhs. F, G), 2023]
17.144.110 Common facilities.
Common facilities such as service buildings, water systems, septage facilities, roads, paths, trails and other facilities shall be designed to accommodate maximum demand and occupancy.
(1) Potable water shall be available within 200 feet of each camping site. Adequate disposal for faucet overflow shall be provided at each distribution point.
(2) Service buildings containing toilet and handwashing facilities shall be available within 400 feet of each camping site.
(3) Common facilities must connect to a designed septic system when required by Lewis County public health and social services. [Ord. 1348 (Exhs. F, G), 2023]
17.144.120 Access and circulation.
Access and circulation within a recreational vehicle park and campground shall be designed to accommodate maximum demand and occupancy, and with appropriate consideration for existing and proposed lanes of vehicle travel, anticipated traffic patterns, topographic and drainage conditions, pedestrian access and safety, and the proposed uses of the land served.
(1) Lanes of vehicle travel within the confines of a recreational vehicle park or campground shall provide for access to each camping site, and ease of vehicular movement within the development. Lanes of vehicle travel shall be named and identified with appropriate signs approved by the county building official.
(2) Traffic signs and safety devices shall be provided and installed by the applicant in accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
(3) Common use facilities, such as potable water or toilet facilities, shall have pedestrian access by path or trail from each camping site to the facility and all of the following shall be met:
(a) Each path or trail shall be at least five feet wide;
(b) Paths or trails shall not interfere with or cross camping sites; and
(c) Paths and trails shall not be co-located within a lane of vehicle travel. Paths and trails may cross a lane of vehicle travel if the path or trail is clearly marked. [Ord. 1348 (Exhs. F, G), 2023]