In Seattle, people can currently park their RVs overnight in industrial areas or, according to posted signage, up to 72 hours in one place, like other vehicles. However, the new legislation would change the law so that RVs could only park for two hours in one place, and would be forbidden from parking anywhere overnight (from midnight to 6am). Failure to follow these laws could result in towing without notice.

The only exception to this new rule would be for people living in RVs and “fifth wheel” trailers who succeeded in applying for a special permit during a one-time census. In order to receive a permit, residents would have to agree to receive services and ultimately move into other housing or shelter. There would be one permit per person who would have to prove they were the registered owner of the vehicle.

In order to retain a permit, residents would have to abide by a number of regulations, including having the vehicle display a license plate and vehicle identification number, not leaving trash around, not hosting a group of five or more people, not leaving a pet tied up unattended, etc.

Permit holders would be able to turn down up to six offers of shelter or housing, but after that, they would lose their permit.

Strauss framed his plan as a way to help people who live in their vehicles.

“Today, we have zero places for people who live in their vehicles to come inside to. We have no city systems or city teams that are designed to help people that are experiencing homelessness with vehicles,” Strauss told The Urbanist. “We need to create those systems, and from there as well, RVs are a unique type of vehicle that are not built for year-round habitation.”