San Carlos is edging toward a citywide ban on RV street parking after a City Council study session on Monday, with most councilmembers signaling that an across-the-board prohibition would be easier to understand and enforce than a permit system. The push follows a steady drumbeat of complaints from east-side businesses about employees and customers losing parking and about growing visual blight along the industrial corridors.
Council Study Session and Local Concerns
During the study session, staff walked the council through a menu of options that ranged from targeted restrictions to a 24/7 citywide ban. Councilmembers spent much of the discussion on whether to focus enforcement on the industrial and commercial east side, where complaints have been loudest. As reported by the San Mateo Daily Journal, the current city code already bars RVs, campers, trailers, and boat trailers from parking overnight between 10 PM and 6 AM, but daytime parking is still largely open.
Enforcement Numbers and Deputies' Approach
The San Carlos bureau of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office reported more than 65 dispatch calls about RV-related nuisances in 2025 and issued 348 citations from Jan. 1, 2025, through April 7. Only about 44 percent of those citations have been paid.
Legal Limits and What Enforcement Can Do
San Carlos contracts with the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office for police services, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. State law lets local authorities remove vehicles left in one spot for 72 or more consecutive hours, but only if there is a local ordinance in place. Under California Vehicle Code §22651, any vehicle that is occupied or even suspected to be occupied can be removed only by a peace officer, which significantly limits how quickly RVs can be towed in many cases.
Regional Context And Alternatives
Nearby cities have been experimenting with different ways to balance public-space access with the needs of people living in vehicles. San Francisco’s recent permit-and-outreach program is one example of pairing citations with services and safe-parking alternatives. As reported by SFGATE, that effort includes a six-month permit and promises outreach before strict enforcement in many situations.
What Happens Next
City staff will return with formal recommendations after more outreach to business owners and community groups. Councilmembers may be asked to choose between a 24/7 citywide prohibition, a targeted east-side ban, or beefed-up overnight restrictions. In the meantime, deputies say they will keep emphasizing social-service referrals alongside citations, aiming to help people living in vehicles find options beyond long-term street parking.
