Seattle City Council Rejects Stricter RV Parking Restrictions, Upholds Mayor’s Veto

The Seattle City Council has rejected a proposal to introduce stricter parking regulations for recreational vehicles (RVs) across Seattle, allowing Mayor Katie Wilson’s veto to remain in place.

During a vote on Thursday, November 12, councilmembers voted 5-4 in favor of upholding the mayor’s veto. Six votes were required to override the decision and move forward with the legislation.

The proposed rules were intended to address the growing number of RVs parked on city streets, particularly vehicles used as permanent residences.

Under the proposal, people living in RVs would have been required to obtain a special city permit to park overnight. Those without permits would generally have been limited to two hours of street parking and could have faced towing.

The City Council had originally approved the legislation in October. However, Mayor Wilson vetoed the measure on November 2, arguing that the proposed permit system could be expensive to administer, difficult to enforce and potentially create additional challenges for people experiencing homelessness.

Councilmembers divided over the decision

Councilmember Dan Strauss, who supported the restrictions and helped lead the legislation, expressed disappointment with the outcome.

Strauss argued that Seattle needs concrete action to address the impact of RV encampments on neighborhoods rather than continuing to study the problem.

The vote also highlighted disagreements among councilmembers over how the city should balance neighborhood concerns, public safety and assistance for people living in vehicles.

What happens next?

Although the permit proposal was rejected, the city is not abandoning its efforts to address RV-related concerns.

Mayor Wilson previously announced an executive order establishing a broader approach focused on outreach, support services and coordination between city departments and community organizations.

The mayor’s administration expects to develop additional recommendations within two months. The goal is to reduce the number of people living in vehicles while improving neighborhood conditions and expanding pathways to shelter and permanent housing.

For now, the proposed citywide RV permit requirement and its associated two-hour parking restrictions will not move forward.