After significant debate regarding the presence of RV dwellers on city streets, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has voted to implement a citywide ban on long-term oversized vehicle parking.
This initial vote requires individuals living in recreational vehicles (RVs) to move their vehicles every two hours unless they obtain a permit, potentially displacing hundreds of residents who rely on their vehicles for shelter.
Supervisor Shamann Walton, who opposed the ban, emphasized the need to consider residents who live in vehicles as having a home, stating, “To say that someone living in a vehicle does not have a home is malicious when they have no other form of shelter.”
Walton continued, criticizing the legislation for implying that only traditional housing is a legitimate home in a city known for its exorbitant living costs.
“I cannot condone mass evictions to the streets for people trying to live in their homes — especially at a time when there’s an attack on immigrants, people of color, our LGBTQ community and basically anyone that is not in the one percent,” he added.
In 2024, city officials had previously proposed specific parking restrictions targeting established RV communities in areas such as Lake Merced and Bernal Hill.
Former Mayor London Breed had sought to broaden the authority to tow vehicles parked overnight if residents refused provided shelter, but community advocates successfully blocked these efforts in December.
However, Mayor Daniel Lurie revived the ban in his recent proposal, which now mandates a two-hour parking limit for oversized vehicles across all city streets.
This legislation aims to provide a comprehensive solution to the issues caused by earlier parking restrictions while also offering incentives for residents to transition into stable housing.
Some exemptions will apply for commercial vehicles parking in industrial zones.
The new proposal received unanimous approval from the city’s Budget and Finance Committee and passed its first vote with a count of 9–2.
Supervisors Jackie Fielder and Walton were the only dissenters in this vote.
In an official statement, Lurie’s office described the plan as a compassionate approach to a long-standing issue.
“With compassion and accountability, we will give those living in vehicles a better option and deliver safe and clean streets for our communities,” the statement read.
The context of this legislation reflects a broader trend in other Bay Area cities, where local governments are cracking down on vehicle homelessness.
Fremont has instituted what is believed to be the most stringent overnight camping ban in the state, limiting RV parking to no more than three consecutive nights on any public or private property.
Meanwhile, Berkeley city council has initiated cleanups of known RV communities in alignment with new aggressive policies on encampments.
These actions followed an order from Governor Gavin Newsom in July for state agencies to dismantle homeless encampments statewide.
Looking ahead, if Lurie’s legislation secures a second vote in the coming weeks, the new parking measures could soon be enacted.
Homelessness advocates have voiced concerns that this legislation may impact approximately 475 residents living in RVs, many of whom might hesitate to exchange their mobile homes for the housing options currently available in the city.
Those actively seeking housing may qualify for permits that allow them to stay in their RVs for up to six months while they await relocation.
Additionally, the legislation allocates funding for 65 rapid rehousing slots, supplementing over 300 similar subsidies in the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing’s annual budget for the year.
Advocates are also waiting on more information regarding a proposed vehicle buyback initiative that would offer financial incentives to individuals for turning in their RVs.
The specifics of this buyback program have yet to be clarified, although it includes a budget of $500,000.
Earlier this year, Berkeley initiated a pilot program that reimbursed residents $175 per linear foot of their RVs, equating to approximately $6,000 for a standard 35-foot vehicle.
As of now, it remains uncertain whether San Francisco is still pursuing the establishment of a new safe parking site, similar to one created in the Bayview area during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year, the city explored options for converting two lots into safe parking areas, but no sites have been secured to date.
image source from：kqed
