Oak Harbor weighs ordinance to curb long-term oversized vehicle parking

Oak Harbor could soon make it harder to leave boats, trailers and RVs parked on city streets for days at a time, a move that would put curb space, neighborhood livability and sanitation at the center of the debate.

At an April 21 council workshop, Police Chief Tony Slowik recommended a citywide ordinance that would restrict vessels, trailers, recreational vehicles and other oversized vehicles from long-term parking on public roads. Slowik framed the proposal as a safety and neighborhood-quality issue, saying residents have complained that the vehicles often sit unused for long periods while taking up scarce parking in front of homes.

The most serious concern Slowik raised involved sanitation. He said officers had documented five verified incidents of recreational vehicles spilling human waste in violation of city codes, including dumping into stormwater drains. That turns the dispute from a parking complaint into a public-health and water-quality issue, especially in a city where stormwater systems feed directly into local infrastructure.

The proposal is not yet final. It is expected to return to the Oak Harbor City Council for a motion on May 5, and council members have already signaled reservations and possible changes. If it advances in its current direction, the ordinance could force owners of oversized vehicles to move them more often or keep them off public streets altogether, and enforcement could eventually include impound risk.

Oak Harbor has wrestled with this before. In 2022, the council considered a similar ban that would have limited RV parking on city streets to 72 hours, showing that the city has already debated whether oversized vehicles should be treated as a temporary inconvenience or a broader public nuisance.

The city has also shown a willingness to use parking rules as an enforcement tool when conditions worsen. In March 2026, Oak Harbor Police and Public Works closed street parking on Southeast Bayshore Drive after frequent reports of drug use and the discovery of drug paraphernalia. City officials said violators would be towed and impounded.

The broader infrastructure context reaches beyond Oak Harbor city limits. Island County Public Works is responsible for roads, transportation systems, drainage and solid waste disposal, while Island County Surface Water funds stormwater drainage projects, surface-water-quality monitoring, and on-site sewage system monitoring and compliance. The North Whidbey Solid Waste & Recycle Center at 3151 Oak Harbor Road accepts household garbage, underscoring that the city already has disposal systems in place even as it weighs tighter street-parking controls.