Van Parking Code Violations in SLC

My van is my only vehicle, but I don't live in it full time and rent a place in South Salt Lake. I mostly use it for weekend trips and week-long adventures down to the creek, but sadly have to keep a normal 9-5. It is a small E-series van that fits easily on the street. Recently, neighbors have complained about my vehicle and have called the police about a code violation saying it is considered an RV and you can't park an RV on the street. While Utah law does technically considered a van "recreational vehicle" t is registered as a car NOT an RV. 

I see a ton of vans parked on the street around me and they seem to have no issues . There is even an actual RV just up the street from me with an extension cord running to the house for power! I wonder if I just drew the short stick with some neighbors...

Has anyone else encountered a similar problem and had to deal with code enforcement? Looking for advice!

You could try moving to Mexico.  I made the move in 1999.  There's not much code / law enforcement going on down here.  

I think you either have difficult neighbors or perhaps you live somewhere with tight parking.  I have a Winnebago Rialta small RV that I usually park in my driveway, but my driveway is too steep for the furnace and fridge to work.  If I have a friend staying in it or I want to get the fridge cooled down before a trip, I park on the street and have never had an issue in my east Millcreek neighborhood.

Code enforcement in SLC is totally luck of the draw.  A few years ago, I repeatedly called the city to report code violations where a hoarder neighbor's yard was filled with garbage and rats were becoming a problem, and the city never bothered to send anyone out to even look at it.  On the other hand, I once got a ticket for blocking a sidewalk when my truck in my driveway protruded into the sidewalk by maybe 6 inches.  It wasn't a narrow or busy sidewalk either.

Molly Malone wrote:

Has anyone else encountered a similar problem and had to deal with code enforcement? Looking for advice!

Why, I have a card from my local code enforcement officer right here...ha ha.  Neighbors...ugh...

We always try to have a conversation with the person first, prior to calling the city.  We have a neighbor who occasionally parks a HUGE RV on the street.  Not an issue for us, as its up the street a ways.  Moves it when someone complains.  Has the driveway space but just doesn't like having to park it there as its tight.  Still, given a few of the kids don't look when darting out into the street...it is a hazard.  If I lived across the street from them I'd be pretty bummed.  The thing is huge.

Per the code:

"Recreational vehicle" means a vehicular unit primarily designed as a temporary dwelling for travel, recreational and vacation use, which is either self-propelled or is mounted on or pulled by another vehicle.

I don't think the code requires that your vehicle be registered as an RV per se.  Out of state plates probably don't help.  If its outfitted as a camper van, then, its an RV in the eyes of the city, methinks.

Yeah, you got some crappy neighbors.  Do you park it in front of the place you live?  You don't have a parking strip on the side of the house?  No garage (the bain of many a SLC domicile)?  Driveway not an option?

As a homeowner, I kinda see both sides.  But, if you're parking it in front of your place, then, I wouldn't think it'd be an issue especially as those vans aren't that big.  Could be an F-350 with a lift kit!

What did code enforcement say?  My guy was pretty funny to talk to.  "Brad".  Was pretty reasonable about it.  Was an anon complaint but we darn sure know who it was.  Glass houses, people...ha ha.

Best of luck!  

The joys of big city living. SLC, like every city, likes its codes, and all the more so if it keeps the riff raff out and the money flowing in. It sounds like a giant leap to call it an RV even if you do sleep in it (not on this street). I used to sleep in my Chevy Chevelle. Neighbors have a real problem with only your van? Death metal stickers on it? If none is sleeping in it, what is the issue? And so what if someone is. Sounds like you have a court case. 

Won't be moving to SLC.

SinRopa wrote:I’d send them an email simply asking if there’s any reason you’d be prohibited from parking your personal vehicle (specify make/model info) on the street in front of your residence.  You’ll likely get a response saying it’s permitted as long as [insert a few caveats here].  Don’t run afoul of those, and now you’ve got documented permission to park it where you please, and a surefire should you have to contest a citation..

Problem is, that, her van meets the definition of an RV.  Maybe next time put in some curtains or darken the windows so they can't tell its built out for camping.

Uphill battle for sure.  

"There is even an actual RV just up the street from me with an extension cord running to the house for power!"

You're not down in Sandy by chance?  RV by me is huge and plugged in.  Right at a T intersection.  The guy runs a landscaping business I think and has a gob of work trucks parked in his driveway every day.  Kids who work for him park down the street.  

Ahh...city livin'!

See City ordinance 12.56.520 and 12.56.525 for the legalese...looks like you would have to officially move it every 48 hours to a different block to avoid a ticket. Perhaps just around the block and you will avoid the dick people who complained as it'll be outa sight / outa mind?

I can't help you with your issue or question but I can tell you a funny, somewhat related story.

A long time back I bought a used e350 econoline. It was a passenger van, with windows and seats. I converted it to a camper van with a popup roof. Still have it. Now as it turns out, in California, an e350 is considered a commercial vehicle. I have to pay commercial registration rates and as a result, commercial insurance rates too. I'd heard it was possible to get the vehicle reclassified as an RV. This would have a very big impact on both registration and insurance, dropping them both by hundreds of dollars per year in total.

So I took this up with the DMV and they had me come down for inspection. I was required to show them the conversion. No problem. I parked, popped the top, laid out the bed, viola, an RV!

Not one, not two, but three different DMV employees including the office director, came out to have a look. Nut uh, they said, its NOT an RV. Why? Because it didn't have a toilet and the bed is removable. "Why you could just pull that bed out of there and load it up for work!" Nothing I countered with, not the fact that I do not do any commercial work requiring a van, that I work from home for christsakes and I only use that van for RVing  - they wouldn't yield. 

To this day its registered commercial and that decision they made has cost me well over $3000 since. Well over..... if I got a ticket for leaving my "RV" on the street? I would go fucking crazy.

The SLCPD will probably not do anything but rather SLC Parking Enforcement will be the one to issue a ticket. That said as long as you are moving the vehicle as per the code you should be fine. If you get a ticket, head down to court and fight city hall. About all you can do unless you find off street parking.

Maybe the anger stems from the vansions taking up all the small parking areas for climbing and skiing? The stories of 4 vans taking up 10 parking spots(having vansion yard sales) are becoming quite common, people are getting fed up. Most likely though the neighbor is a whiner though and since its legal it shouldn't matter right?

In SLC, there's a 48 hour street parking limit. (72 hours in SSL) Didn't know that was a thing until a roommate got a ticket. He'd left his car parked for a few days in front of the wrong neighbors across street. To their credit, they and theirs have been living here for a long time and know the rules as well as the number to call.

It's likely one or two neighbors that have issue, but it sounds bogus given the van is a primary vehicle.

Gotta say y'all, thanks for coming through with good ideas and the help! Still not quite sure what to do, especially, since it seems like a bit of a bureaucratic mess overall. But giving me lots of good points and ideas if shit gets worse. 

A few notes- I try and park in front of my house most of the time, but street parking can get a bit tight and I sometimes have to move around the street. Funnily enough, my landlord also has a van about the same size. they usually park it in the driveway, but when they park it on the street, they have never had issues. Also, I think maybe I can convince them it is not an RV because I do not have running water and no toilet- it really is just a bed and storage areas with mood lighting. 

Molly Malone wrote:

I try and park in front of my house most of the time..

If parking is tight - an owner-neighbor coming home and seeing a large vehicle from a renter-neighbor blocking his parking spots in front of his own house - is pretty much how the cops get called 99% of the time.  Just don’t do that and see if your problems go away.

Put some handyman decals on the side of the van so it looks like a work vehicle

sandrock wrote:

Put some handyman decals on the side of the van so it looks like a work vehicle

Might not be able to park a commercial vehicle on the street.  Applies to some residential areas in SLC.

I don't know about South Salt Lake City but in SLC proper the ordinance is that it can be parked for 48 hours and it just needs to have a valid registration. Parking enforcement comes and chalk marks the tires and puts a notice on to move it within 48 hours. If you're feeling facetious, you could move it just a little. 

However, regardless of the rules a good relationship with your neighbors is more important. On my street everyone is expected to park in front of their own house. My preference is free-for-all parking but I would rather not piss anyone off.

The volume of passion our culture holds for parking is so strange. I've never minded having to randomly walk an extra couple hundred feet.

Molly - I had an e250 for several years, and dealt with a similar issue. Luckily it was my daily driver, but I did come out a few times to see that my tires had been outlined in chalk, indicating that parking enforcement had stopped by to monitor the movement of the vehicle. In my eyes you're probably g2g from a legal slant, but will have to deal with crappy neighbors.

They still chalk tires in SLC? In 2019 courts ruled chalking tires for parking enforcement is unconstitutional and a lot of cities dropped the practice. Here they snap timestampped photos photos instead. 

My instance was between 2012 and 2018 so what you address could apply here.

Why don’t you knock on your neighbor’s doors and ask them if there is a problem with your van?

Cherokee Nunes wrote:

I can't help you with your issue or question but I can tell you a funny, somewhat related story.

A long time back I bought a used e350 econoline. It was a passenger van, with windows and seats. I converted it to a camper van with a popup roof. Still have it. Now as it turns out, in California, an e350 is considered a commercial vehicle. I have to pay commercial registration rates and as a result, commercial insurance rates too. I'd heard it was possible to get the vehicle reclassified as an RV. This would have a very big impact on both registration and insurance, dropping them both by hundreds of dollars per year in total.

So I took this up with the DMV and they had me come down for inspection. I was required to show them the conversion. No problem. I parked, popped the top, laid out the bed, viola, an RV!

Not one, not two, but three different DMV employees including the office director, came out to have a look. Nut uh, they said, its NOT an RV. Why? Because it didn't have a toilet and the bed is removable. "Why you could just pull that bed out of there and load it up for work!" Nothing I countered with, not the fact that I do not do any commercial work requiring a van, that I work from home for christsakes and I only use that van for RVing  - they wouldn't yield. 

To this day its registered commercial and that decision they made has cost me well over $3000 since. Well over..... if I got a ticket for leaving my "RV" on the street? I would go fucking crazy.

I have an F250. The guy I bought it from out a camper shell on the back and bolted it in place so it was “permanently”:a passenger vehicle. I’ve read if I take the shell off and drive with an open bed I’d be risking a big ticket. I’ve also had a truck camper on there too which is still a passenger vehicle. Kind of rediculous that I could be hauling a 2500 lb camper and that’s okay but if I have an empty bed then it’s for hauling and I’ve to pay more.