NORTH WILDWOOD – The City Council, which has been dealing with the matter of recreational vehicles parked overnight on the streets, has introduced an ordinance to prevent visitors from using their RVs as a place to stay while in town.
The ordinance regulates mobile home trailers and also amends the code to include motor homes, recreational vehicles and campers. It refers to RVs and other camping vehicles as “any self-propelled structure” that is intended to be a dwelling or sleeping place.
The ordinance further states that RVs and campers are not to be used for sleeping, whether on the street or on private property. They also are not to be used as storage space for any business or trade.
One concession to public concern was to allow owners of campers and recreational vehicles to park overnight for loading and unloading. The ordinance includes an allowance to park on the street for 24 hours in front of the owner’s residence between May 16 and Sept. 30.
From Oct. 1 through May 15, the owners of motor homes, campers, camping vehicles or RVs may park them on a street for up to 72 hours for loading or unloading; however, there must be no “unattended” hose or electric cord coming from a residential source to the vehicle.
Such unattended hoses or electrical cords will be taken as evidence that the vehicle is being used as a dwelling or sleeping place. Other such evidence of dwelling or sleeping use would include a generator running, bump-outs or slides extended, the heater on, the side window shades being closed or the cab area window shades being closed.
The ordinance also says it will be unlawful to park a jobsite trailer or mobile office trailer on any city street from May 16 through Sept. 30.
A second reading and public hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 10 a.m. in the council meeting room of North Wildwood City Hall.
Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
