The Dalles City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 10
12 RECREATIONAL VEHICLE PARKS
§ 10.12.010 Purpose.
The provisions in this chapter are intended to ensure a safe and healthful environment in recreational vehicle parks, to protect the general public health, safety and welfare, and to describe the requirements for recreational vehicle park development for commercial use.
(Ord. 24-1405)
§ 10.12.020 Zoning.
Recreational vehicle parks (RV parks) are permitted outright in the CG (General Commercial), CR (Recreational Commercial), CLI (Commercial Light Industrial) and I (Industrial) zones.
(Ord. 24-1405)
§ 10.12.030 Review Process.
Recreational vehicle park applications shall be reviewed per the provisions of Article 3.030: Site Plan Review.
(Ord. 24-1405)
§ 10.12.040 Review Criteria.
§ 10.12.050 Development Standards.
B.
Hazards to Property and Occupants. The condition of soil, groundwater level, drainage, and topography shall not create hazards to the property or the health and safety of occupants. Park sites shall not be located in areas prone to erosion or exposed to objectionable smoke, noise, odors, or other adverse influences.
D.
Park Building Setbacks. Setbacks shall be the same as the setbacks required by the zone district.
E.
Spacing. RV spaces must be no less than 10 feet from one another. No RV space may be located less than 10 feet from neighboring property lines and 15 feet from the public right-of-way.
F.
Access.
1.
Access to an RV park shall be from an arterial or collector street.
2.
In order to facilitate ease of entry and exit, the Planning Commission may authorize a wider driveway entrance than is otherwise provided for in this Title.
3.
Park access connections to public streets shall meet the requirements of Article 6.050: Access Management.
4.
For RV parks of 10 or more spaces, at least two vehicular access points shall be provided. Each exit shall be no closer than 75 feet (edge to edge) from any other exit.
5.
All Plan Sets must include functional turning templates/turning radii which demonstrate entry and exit into the park and spaces specifically designed to accommodate the anticipated types of RVs within the park.
G.
Screening. Park perimeter screening shall meet the applicable requirements of Section 10.6.010.050: Screening—Hedges, Fences, Walls other than Retaining Walls, Berms, and the following provisions; provided, however, the following provisions control in the event of any inconsistency with the requirements specified in Section 10.6.010.050:
1.
Perimeter Screening Adjacent to Abutting Properties. A sight-obscuring fence, wall, evergreen hedge, or combination of screening/planting shall surround each RV park, except as specified in subsection (G)(2) below for parks adjacent to public streets, and shall meet the following requirements:
a.
Perimeter screening shall not be place in any residential setbacks.
b.
Landscaping consistent with Article 6.010 shall be provided in the required setbacks areas, and shall be used to reinforce perimeter screening.
c.
Walls or fences shall be six feet in height. Evergreen hedge plantings shall be at least six feet in height at time of planting, and be maintained in a healthy, living condition.
2.
Perimeter Screening Adjacent to Public Streets. A six-foot-high sight-obscuring screen shall be provided using fencing and vegetation and/or an earthen berm and vegetation as follows:
a.
Fencing. Any fence shall have an average 15-foot setback from the public right-of-way and shall meet the requirements of Article 6.100: Vision Clearance. Fencing closer than 15 feet to the public right-of-way shall conform to the subject zoning district's restrictions on front yard fencing. Fences and walls over 100 feet in length (of a single run) shall be designed to prevent visual monotony through use of offsets, changes of materials and textures, or landscaping.
b.
Berms. Earthen berms up to six feet in height may be used to comply with screening requirements. The slope of the berm may not exceed 2:1, the top of the berm shall be relatively flat, and the faces of the slope shall be planted with ground cover, shrubs, and trees.
H.
Surfacing. All RV parks must be surfaced per the following standards:
1.
RV spaces shall be covered with crushed gravel or paved with asphalt, concrete or similar material.
2.
Non-recreational vehicle parking, internal roadways, and vehicle maneuvering areas must be paved with asphalt, concrete, or similar material.
3.
All areas must be designed to provide for the control of runoff, surface water, dust, and mud.
I.
Non-Recreational Vehicle Parking Requirement. In addition to the number of parking spaces required for park administration, there shall be a minimum of 0.5 and a maximum of 1.5 parking spaces per RV space. Parking areas shall meet all of the requirements of Article 7.030: General Design Standards for Surface Parking Lots.
J.
Landscaping. All areas not occupied by park buildings, streets, RV spaces, non-recreational vehicle parking spaces, outdoor patios, and common areas shall be landscaped per the provisions of Article 6.010: Landscaping. A landscape plan shall be included with the Plan Set and must include internal shade trees at a rate of one tree per five RV spaces.
K.
Pedestrian Circulation. To ensure pedestrian connectivity, all RV parks must include an internal pedestrian walkway connecting to the adjacent public sidewalk. The walkway must be separated from vehicle parking and maneuvering areas by grade, different paving material, or landscaping throughout the park.
L.
Utilities. All RV parks may establish and maintain a private utility system for all park utilities. Each RV space may be provided water and electrical connections; however, no sewer connections may be provided to any RV space. RV parks must provide ADA accessible communal restroom and shower facilities.
M.
Lighting. Lighting sources shall be shielded, and arranged so as not to produce glare in any public right-of-way or adjacent property.
N.
Refuse Collection.
1.
Minimum Requirements. RV parks must provide and make available a minimum of one 30-gallon refuse container for each four RV spaces and each refuse container shall be located within 300 feet of each RV space.
2.
Screening. Refuse storage facilities shall be screened by a solid wall, fence, evergreen hedge, or a combination of these methods. Screening shall be designed to screen the refuse storage area from public streets and adjacent properties.
3.
Placement. All refuse collection containers shall be placed on concrete pads. Pads shall have a positive surface drainage.
(Ord. 24-1405; Ord. 25-1414, 7/14/2025)
§ 10.12.060 Park Operations.
All RV parks must comply with the following operational standards:
A.
Each RV park shall at all times keep an orderly appearance and remain free of litter, junk, and refuse.
B.
On-Site Park Host. Each RV park must provide an on-site RV park host available 24/7 for maintenance, security, and enforcement purposes. Host contact information must be conspicuously displayed throughout the park.
C.
Hours. Each RV park must establish and conspicuously display operational hours and quiet hours. All RV check-in and check-out times may not occur with designated quiet hours.
D.
Storage. There shall be no outside storage of materials or equipment belonging to the park or to any of the guests.
F.
External Generators. Use of external generators is prohibited.
(Ord. 24-1405)
§ 10.12.070 Length of Stay.
The RV park Operational Plan must state the total number of spaces and clearly label each space in the Plan Set and on site. No occupant may stay in any space for more than 30 days. All spaces are required to pay transient room taxes for each nightly stay per the provisions of Chapter 8.04 - Transient Room Tax.
All RV park operators must submit to the Finance Department a monthly report of nightly stays. Report must clearly designate the total number of nightly stays and total amount of transient room taxes. Failure to submit monthly reporting may result in the revocation of the RV park's land use approval per the provisions of Section 10.12.080.
(Ord. 24-1405)
§ 10.12.080 Revocation Process.
The Director may institute a proceeding before the Planning Commission to revoke an approved RV park when the Director has reasonable grounds to believe one or more of the following events have occurred or are occurring at the RV park:
A.
Failure to Meet Conditions. Any conditions of approval have not or are not being met.
B.
Failure to Build According to Plans. The project is not constructed in accordance with all approved plans.
C.
Erroneous Information. The City issued the permit on the basis of erroneous or misleading information or a material misrepresentation.
The Director shall submit a report to the City Attorney and request them to send a notice of violation pursuant to Chapter 10.15 - Enforcement. If, in the opinion of the Director, the property owner demonstrates a good faith willingness to comply with the subject approval requirements within the time period specified in the notice of violation, then revocation procedures may be stayed; otherwise, the Director may schedule a hearing before the Planning Commission using the same notice requirements and process as the original RV park application.
(Ord. 24-1405)