Oak Harbor sets new limits on oversized vehicle parking

Oak Harbor residents who leave RVs, boats, trailers or oversized work vehicles on city streets could soon be on a much tighter clock: the draft rule would bar vessels, trailers and vehicles more than 22 feet long or 8 feet wide from streets, alleys and public ways for more than 12 hours, and police would give 24 hours’ notice before removal.

The proposal, Ordinance No. 2043, was on the June 2 City Council agenda after a workshop on April 14. It would amend OHMC 10.12.010 and add new sections covering parking restrictions, a residential loading exception and residential parking permits, building on Oak Harbor Municipal Code Chapter 10.12, which already includes parking and impound provisions in some circumstances, including a 24-hour parking prohibition.

Under the draft discussed by the council, an oversized vehicle could remain in front of a registered residence for up to five days. After that, it would have to be moved out of the city right-of-way for at least 72 hours before the exception resets. That framework would affect people who rely on large vehicles for travel, work or storage, while also giving the city a clearer way to respond when a camper, trailer or boat sits in one spot for too long.

Police Chief Tony Slowik said city staff had verified five incidents of recreational vehicles spilling human waste in violation of city codes, and he said about 85% of illegal dumping flows directly into Puget Sound. He linked the ordinance to water-quality concerns and the city’s Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater NPDES permit, while also arguing that Oak Harbor streets were not built for the combined width of parked oversized vehicles and moving traffic.

Mayor Ronnie Wright said residents raised the issue at a Wright Blend event and treated it as a public-safety problem in neighborhoods. Oak Harbor Code Compliance already lists RV Parking and Occupancy as a complaint category, and the city’s enforcement system is generally complaint-driven, so the ordinance would sharpen an existing process rather than create one from scratch. Council discussion also touched on storage capacity, costs, fairness, possible permits and HOA conflicts, signaling that the final version could still change before it is adopted.