RV parking bylaw needs amending

Editor: In early April, we wrote to The Daily Courier alerting folks to an outdated city bylaw that has a weight restriction of 5,500 kilograms for any RV parked on your own private property and of the need for changing this bylaw.

Since that letter, we have spoken with neighbours, family, real estate agents, RV storage and RV dealers and found that not one person with whom we spoke with was aware that this bylaw exists.

In a preliminary three-hour drive around various Kelowna neighbourhoods, we found more than 200 RVs of varying sizes and lengths parked on private residential lots.

Of course, not every RV was of the 5,500 kg size, but rest assured most were not the tiny campers of 20 to 30 years ago. Many were larger fifth wheel trailers and motorhomes, so it does seem that these larger RVs are becoming a norm and not a unique purchase.

If you've had your larger RV on your own property until now, it really is only a matter of a single complaint and you will have to move your unit or face a fine of $30 for every day of non-compliance. Finding storage that is close to your home, available and inexpensive is not easy.

Common sense is also stretched when looking at the present bylaw that allows your neighbour to park up to two RVs, each of 5,500kg in weight, but your single RV unit weighing 5,500 kg has to be moved? Why does it make sense that you could have two RVs weighing a total of 11000kg on your property but you cannot have one weighing 5501kg?

Because we tout Kelowna as a four-season playground and tourist destination, we sell homes with “plenty of RV parking” and we sell larger and larger RVs to folks, it is time to see this bylaw amended to reflect current ownership and needs. I encourage anyone wishing to keep their RV on their own property or any business with a vested interest please follow the link and sign our petition to have this bylaw amended.

Petition link: www.change.org/p/kelownacity-council-amend-rv-bylaw

Brenda Carr, Kelowna