Ashland considers allowing recreational vehicles in existing mobile-home parks with limits

The Board of City Commissioners reviewed and approved on first reading an ordinance to amend the city zoning code to add definitions and regulations governing recreational vehicles (RVs) in existing mobile-home parks.

Under the proposed changes, RVs would be permitted in existing mobile-home parks under temporary-occupancy rules rather than as permanent dwellings; staff described a time limit (roughly six months with a possible one-time extension) to prevent permanent occupancy. The city would rely on code enforcement to address violations, with penalties applied to the property owner and the option to place liens; staff said the city lacks authority to tow RVs from private property as a primary enforcement tool.

Commissioners raised practical enforcement concerns, including how staff would confirm whether an RV is occupied and whether a resident who left on a job and returned would inadvertently run afoul of occupancy limits. Staff acknowledged those enforcement constraints and said enforcement would largely be complaint-driven and handled through property-owner sanctions.

The ordinance amends conditional uses, district regulations and definitions in the zoning code; because this was first reading, the matter remains subject to further review before final adoption.