RVs in Side, Back Yards Get OK from Dunedin Officials

Dunedin officials relaxed regulations on recreational vehicles parked in neighborhoods recently.

Some residents upset about recreational vehicles parked in two of their neighbors' yards pointed to unclear codes to the city, prompting officials to revise them using more precise language.

Dunedin staff sought to widen the codes, allowing residents to park any type of recreational vehicle in their rear or side yard so long as it has the "proper screening" of a minimum 6-foot-high fence.

Opponents said 6-foot fences were not enough to cover tall RVs that were casting massive shadows on their property, and called it un-neighborly.

Elected officials, however, adopted the clarified codes during a city commission meeting on Thursday, March 7.

City documents (attached) state that: 

This change will eliminate the need to use a tape measure to enforce RV parking in residential areas. It will eliminate the confusion caused by the term 'rated length' and will also use existing DOT standards for maximum height.

Other significant changes include:

• Parking in the front yard is only permitted when owners are loading, unloading or in the act of cleaning the RV.
• RVs or recreation equipment must not have more than 2 axles. 
• Boats and other recreational equipment, not including recreational vehicles, must be under 25 feet long, and less than 11 feet high. 
• Connections to electricity or other amenities, such as water and sewer, in residential areas is prohibited, except for the purpose of charging batteries. 
• Recreational vehicles may not be parked in right-of-way areas, vacant lots or sites under construction.

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