HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 1847 - RVs in Parks
CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO
INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL MEMBER OHM
Council Bill No. 14
Ordinance No. 1847
Series 2026
TITLE: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE WHEAT RIDGE CODE OF LAWS
CONCERNING RECREATIONAL VEHICLE PARKING IN PARKS AND OPEN
SPACE AREAS
WHEREAS, the City of Wheat Ridge (the “City”) is a home rule municipality having
all powers conferred by Article XX of the Colorado Constitution; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to its home rule authority and C.R.S. § 31-23-101, the City,
acting through its City Council (the “Council”), is authorized to adopt ordinances for the
protection of the public health, safety or welfare; and
WHEREAS, in the exercise of this authority, the City Council has previously adopted
Section 17-52 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws (the “Code”) concerning the parking and use of vehicles within the park and recreational areas of the City; and
WHEREAS, the Council finds it necessary to restrict the parking of recreational
vehicles in such areas in order to ensure that park and recreation areas of the City are not
used for residential purposes; and
WHEREAS, the Council further finds that the extended parking of recreational vehicles in park and recreation areas discourages and displaces members of the public
from using such areas for their intended purpose, which is for temporary recreation visits
by members of the public.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO:
Section 1. Section 17-1 of the Code is amended by the addition of the following
definitions in their appropriate alphabetical location:
OVERSIZE VEHICLE MEANS ANY VEHICLE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION
RECREATIONAL VEHICLES (RVS), MOTORHOMES, TRAVEL TRAILERS AND FIFTH-
WHEEL TRAILERS, COMMERCIAL TRUCKS, BUSES, LARGE VANS, OR BOATS ON
TRAILERS, WHICH VEHICLE EXCEEDS 22 FEET IN LENGTH, 8 FEET IN WIDTH, OR 9
FEET IN HEIGHT, INCLUDING ANY ATTACHED ACCESSORIES, CARGO CARRIERS, OR TRAILERS.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE (RV) MEANS A MOTORIZED OR TOWABLE VEHICLE ON
A CHASSIS WITH WHEELS AND DESIGNED AND BUILT FOR LEISURE, SEASONAL USE,
OR TEMPORARY LIVING, FEATURING AMENITIES FOR CAMPING AND TRAVEL-LIKE BEDS, KITCHENS, AND BATHROOMS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS CHAPTER 17,
RECREATIONAL VEHICLES ARE NOT INTENDED FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE.
Section 2. Section 17-52 of the Code, concerning vehicles in park and recreation
areas, is amended by revising subsections (b) and (c) thereof to read as follows:
Sec. 17-52. -Vehicles.
(a) . . .
(b) Parking within or upon parks, open space, trails, parkways, THE CITY
RECREATION CENTER, or OTHER recreation areas (COLLECTIVELY,
“RECREATION AREAS”) shall not be permitted at any time a
RECREATION AREA park is closed, or in any area ordered closed by the director. It shall be unlawful to park so as to obstruct access roadways
and parking areas or areas designated by sign for emergency vehicles
use only. Vehicles may be parked in park and recreation areas only if the
occupants are engaged in an activity connected with the areas.
NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, OVERSIZE VEHICLES, AS DEFINED AT SECTION 17-1 OF THIS CHAPTER MAY BE PARKED ONLY
DURING RECREATION AREA POSTED OPEN HOURS AND ONLY IN
LOCATIONS WITHIN SUCH AREAS DESIGNATED BY SIGNAGE
INDICATING “OVERSIZED VEHICLE PARKING." ANY SUCH VEHICLE
SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED TO BE PARKED IN ANY RECREATION AREA, WHETHER IN A SINGLE RECREATION AREA, OR IN MULTIPLE
RECREATION AREAS IN SEQUENCE, FOR MORE THAN THREE
CONSECUTIVE DAYS; MOVING THE VEHICLE WITHIN THAT PERIOD
SHALL NOT RESET THE THREE DAY LIMITATION, IT BEING THE
INTENTION OF THIS SECTION THAT RECREATIONAL VEHICLES NOT
BE PARKED IN RECREATION AREAS OF THE CITY IN A MANNER WHICH
UNREASONABLY EXCLUDES USE BY MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
(c) Washing or servicing of vehicles, INCLUDNG DRAINING WASTE TANKS,
in any park or recreation area of the city is prohibited.
Section 3. Severability, Conflicting Ordinances Repealed. If any section,
subsection or clause of this Ordinance shall be deemed to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity of the remaining sections, subsections and clauses shall
not be affected thereby. All other ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with the
provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed.
Section 4. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
final publication, as provided by Section 5.11 of the Charter.
INTRODUCED, READ, AND ADOPTED on first reading by a vote of 7 to 0 on this
22nd day of June 2026, ordered published in full on the City’s website as provided by
the Home Rule Charter, and Public Hearing and consideration on final passage set for July 13, 2026, at 6:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers, 7500 West 29th Avenue, Wheat
Ridge, Colorado.
READ, ADOPTED AND ORDERED PUBLISHED on second and final reading by a
vote of 8 to 0, this 13th day of July 2026.
SIGNED by the Mayor on this 16th day of July 2026.
Korey Stites, Mayor
ATTEST:
__________________________________________
Janeece Hoppe, City Clerk
Approved as to Form:
Gerald E. Dahl, City Attorney
First Publication: June 23, 2026
Second Publication: July 14, 2026
Effective Date: July 29, 2026
Published: Jeffco Transcript and www.ci.wheatridge.co.us