A Northern California county considering whether to allow people to live in recreational vehicles on private property has delayed a final decision, sending the proposal back for revisions after a lengthy public debate.
The Nevada County Board of Supervisors voted 4–1 Tuesday to postpone action on a proposed ordinance that would allow RVs to be used as residential units on certain rural parcels. Instead, the county’s staff will revise the proposal and bring it back for consideration later this year.
The ordinance has been under discussion for about a year as local officials grapple for ways to address the region’s housing shortage.
Under the proposal, RVs could potentially be used as additional dwelling units on properties of at least three acres in unincorporated areas of the county. Only one RV would be allowed per parcel.
Strict requirements
There is far more involved in the requirements of living legally on the private lands. The RV would need to connect to approved water, septic and electrical systems. Property owners would need a permit and periodic inspections.
Public interest in the issue has been high. Nearly two hours of public comment preceded the vote, with many speakers supporting the proposal as a way to create more affordable housing.
Supporters say the ordinance could help people already living in RVs do so legally.
Supervisor Heidi Hall said many residents have turned to RVs because they cannot find affordable housing. “We’re trying to give them a path to compliance,” she said, suggesting the proposal could serve as a pilot program to see how the idea works in practice.
Other supervisors expressed concerns about possible impacts on neighborhoods and infrastructure.
Supervisor Sue Hoek said she wanted more information about how expanded RV living might affect property values, road access and emergency services. Supervisor Hardy Bullock also questioned whether RVs should be treated as permanent housing.
Board Chair Lisa Swarthout proposed a compromise that would allow temporary RV living in hardship situations rather than immediately approving the broader ordinance.
Current county regulations allow people to live in an RV only in limited circumstances, such as while building a home or providing medical care for someone on the property.
Supervisors directed county staff to return with revised options that could include a hardship category for temporary RV living, along with possible pilot programs or time limits. The board is expected to revisit the issue later this year.
Why this matters to RVers
The debate reflects a growing trend across the United States as communities grapple with housing shortages. Some local governments are exploring whether RVs can serve as legal temporary or long-term housing. The RV Industry Association, which regulates RV construction and use, states that RVs are for temporary living only.
For RV owners, especially those living full-time in their rigs, local ordinances can determine whether parking and living in an RV on private property is legal, restricted, or prohibited.
Nevada County’s decision could signal how other rural communities approach the question of RV living in the future.
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RVT1252b
It is cheaper to buy three acres of land than to buy or rent a house or condo? Really? Hmm, … . Have a great week and safe travels.
I inherited several acres of land in a popular tourist destination in California. The land had been in my family for generations. I want to keep it but am not financially or emotionally prepared to develop it. Yet, even as a life-long California citizen I am not allowed to park my RV on my own land, in a ravine where no one can see it, for more than 30 days. The real estate powers have normalized anti-RV legislation so thoroughly that no one can seem to remember how before the housing boom of the 1950’s half of California housing was on wheels.
This country never could have been settled if we had all the rules and regulations that exist now. It’s a wonder that anything gets done today — yet we wonder why there are ‘unhoused’.
If you own three acres, by golly you should be able to park an RV on it and live in it (provided you have proper sewer/water (electricity can and should be off grid).
What is the point of owning land that you pay taxes on but cannot manage to the best of your ability to maximize its value to you and others?