San Francisco Restricts RV Parking in Effort to Combat Homelessness

RVs sit parked on a street across from Google headquarters on May 22, 2019 in Mountain View, California. As the price of rent continues to skyrocket in the San Francisco Bay Area, a number of RVs have appeared on the streets near the Google headquarters in Mountain View. The Mountain View police department logged nearly 300 RVs parked on city streets that appeared to be used as a primary residence. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

San Francisco has approved a new two-hour parking limit on all oversized vehicles in an attempt to prevent homeless people from living in RVs and to reclaim public spaces across the city. The policy was passed by city supervisors in a 9–2 vote on July 22.

“No child should grow up in San Francisco forced to live in a car, and no parent should have to raise their child in those conditions,” San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said in his introduction of the plan in June. “This legislation combines compassion with accountability, offering a clear path to housing while restoring safety, cleanliness, and accessibility to our streets and public spaces.”