City of Santa Cruz denies oversized vehicle ordinance appeal

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV)- On Tuesday Santa Cruz city council decided to keep their overnight street parking ban on RV's. This means a permit continues to be required for anyone with over-sized vehicle. 

The topic of permits for oversized vehicles in Santa Cruz, isn't new. 

In 2023, the City brought up the issue and approved a ban. For some living in Santa Cruz they aren't opposed to purchasing a permit.

“We normally don’t camp or put our RV's like just on a city street but if you had to do that then purchasing a permit I think it’s it would be fair," Melissa Truesdale who owns an RV in Santa Cruz said.

People wanted to appeal the ban which causes them to eliminate it especially for people with special needs. 

There are now considerations for people considered disabled, yet the ban still remains.

“We continue to oppose the oversize vehicle ordinance because we believe that it has been fundamentally flawed from the start and that this new permit, with minor modifications, remains fundamentally flawed, violating civil rights and disability rights,” Santa Cruz City Councilwoman Sandy Brown said.

City Council members brought this to the meeting held on Tuesday where the appeal was denied in a 6-1 vote.

The ordinance now remains and limits vehicles which are more than 20 feet in length or more than 8 feet tall and more than 7 feet wide from parking on city streets between the times of midnight and 5 am.

If oversized vehicle overnight parking spaces fill up, individuals will be given an on street permit which will protect the vehicle from being ticketed.