A new plan for RVs in Seattle could reshape where people living in these vehicles can park and whether they can stay on the streets at all.The sweeping proposal
A new plan for RVs in Seattle could reshape where people living in these vehicles can park and whether they can stay on the streets at all.
The sweeping proposal would pair new services with tighter parking rules for motor homes and travel trailers.
It is meant to be a pathway into permanent housing, but not everyone will qualify, and for those without a city permit, it could end with a tow truck.
Seattle City Councilmember Dan Strauss said his package of legislation tackles two urgent problems at once. It offers much-needed help to people living in their vehicles while also addressing the growing pressure to clear RVs from Seattle streets.
“We have zero city functions that are built to help people who are experiencing homelessness in their vehicles," Strauss said. “The goal of this legislation is to better regulate motor homes and travel trailers and help the people who are caught in between."
The Vehicle Resident Assistance Program would direct $5 million in already-budgeted city funding toward outreach, safe parking lots, vehicle storage, and services intended to connect vehicle residents with shelter and housing.
It would also impose stricter parking rules. Under the plan, most motor homes and travel trailers would be limited to two hours of street parking and would not be allowed to park anywhere in the city overnight.
There would be an exception for people who qualify for a new city permit.
To get that permit, residents would have to be identified in a one-time city census, own the vehicle, stay connected with service providers, and follow rules involving registration, waste disposal, and noise.
Permit holders would have to park in designated industrial areas to remain overnight but could then stay for up to 72 hours.
The permit could be revoked if someone turns down six offers of appropriate shelter, vehicle storage, or housing.
The permit program would take effect April 30, 2027, with parking enforcement beginning by July 31, 2027. The city would issue warnings during the first 90 days of enforcement.
“We are today saying that in July of next year, RVs aren't allowed on our streets,” Strauss said, “and between now and next July, we need to care for the humans that are in the middle."
The legislation also would authorize a “shelter storage” program for vehicles belonging to people who move indoors, expand the city’s authority to lease sites for safe lots and storage, and update Seattle’s junk vehicle law.
There are a number of concerns about the legislation. Impounding vehicles that are being used as homes can create safety issues, and police may need to get involved. There is also a 20% vacancy rate for parking enforcement officers, and this legislation would lead to more work for the existing staff.
Specialized tow trucks are needed to haul away RVs, and the permitting program might end up costing more than currently projected.
Supporters say Seattle needs a clearer path to housing for people living in vehicles. The King County Regional Homelessness Authority says more than 2,500 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness countywide were living in vehicles during its 2024 count.
Seattle’s only RV-specific safe lot closed in 2025 after its site was redeveloped. The city is using funding to open Glassyard Commons, a new site expected to provide 72 RV spaces and 20 tiny homes in late 2026.
The Public Safety Committee could vote on the package Sept. 22. A final City Council vote could come as early as Oct. 20.
