Thursday, October 1, 2026
An ongoing housing emergency is prompting the Olympia City Council to consider a proposal to allow recreational vehicles to be used as temporary housing on private property.
The council will discuss a pilot program for temporary use of recreational vehicles (RVs) for habitation at a meeting at City Hall at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25.
The program, which was developed by the Olympia Community Development Department, is intended to provide another temporary shelter option for people experiencing houselessness, while moving some vehicle habitation off city streets and into approved private locations.
Under the proposed program, a property owner could grant permission for an RV or other vehicle to be used as a dwelling, with an Emergency Housing Facility Permit issued by the department.
The program would allow one vehicle on an approved location at a developed residential property, such as a driveway on a low-density residential lot.
The occupant would need access to a restroom in the primary home. If available and feasible, the RV would also need to connect to a sewer cleanout.
A second option would apply to faith-based properties, such as churches. Up to two vehicles could be permitted on a paved parking lot at a site developed with a church or another faith-based organization.
Properties governed by active homeowners association covenants that prohibit vehicle habitation would not qualify for the residential portion of the program.
The proposal also includes restrictions intended to address neighborhood and environmental concerns.
RVs would not be allowed to connect to septic systems, while outdoor storage, rubbish and garbage associated with the vehicle could not be visible. RV waste could only be dumped into an approved sewer clean-out or a mobile sewage transport device.
Permits would be limited to six months, although permits could be renewed if the permit holder continues to meet the required conditions.
The community development director could establish additional conditions and could revoke or decline to renew a permit if those conditions are violated.
The proposal comes as the city continues to address houselessness and vehicle habitation.
In 2024, the city council adopted Ordinance No. 7410, which allows vehicle camping within rights-of-way of city streets under certain conditions. The regulations include moving vehicles every 24 hours and maintaining at least 500 feet of separation from other camping vehicles.
A city staff report states the pilot program would create an alternative to street-based arrangements by allowing vehicles to be located on private property with the property owner’s consent.
According to the city, the pilot would also give homeless response teams additional opportunities to connect people living in vehicles with services. Police and parking services would not be involved unless other circumstances require involvement, while code enforcement personnel could intervene if permit conditions are violated and the vehicle is not removed.
The pilot program would be periodically evaluated to determine whether it should be continued, ended or eventually incorporated permanently into the Olympia Municipal Code.
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LindaD
People have been living in RVs parked on private property forever. The only change here is the need to pay for a six month permit. The alternative is to leave it alone and only get the city involved if there’s a problem. That’s pretty old school rather than make people pay for a permit and running them off every six months. All the other factors are covered by existing regulations. What we get is no additional housing but additional costs to those who are just trying to get through the day.
Monday, August 24 Report this
TheVirtualOne
LindaD - You make very good points. This appears to be more burdensome than helpful, and does nothing to resolve situations like The Jungle. Just adds more intrusive government control and additional costs while accomplishing nothing except adding more bureaucracy and lining the pockets of city government. Typical reaction by a clueless city council that doesn’t know how to solve real world problems, and only makes them worse.
Monday, August 24 Report this
BevBassett
The Port of Olympia (ie, the taxpayers of Thurston County) owns multiple pieces of property. Further, the POO has the unique ability to purchase property. All of which then becomes publicly owned and, thus, exploitable by wealthy private and 'special' interests for the historic purpose of transferring publicly owned assets into private hands and creating wealth which has always in the past made the wealthy wealthier. :-))
Despite arguments to the contrary, The POO could just as easily use OUR publicly owned assets (ie, property and real estate) to house RVs. An obvious example would be The Yacht Club. Owned by the POO. Structures (buildings to cover yachts so they're not damaged by weather and the elements), and infrastructure (hookups to power, water and sewer, docks, walkways, public toilets and showers), are all provided for a monthly fee paid to the Port of Olympia for rent. The Yacht Club would be an excellent model to use to extrapolate how the POO could provide RV services for folks who live in RVs--just like the Yachters use their boats.
The POO also, for example, owns the Farmer's Market where they rent spaces to vendors. Private airplane owners rent hangars at the Olympia Airport--also owned by the POO. I could go on...
Each and every Thurston County property owner pays taxes to support the Port of Olympia--which still, despite the public tax subsidy to their businesses, loses money every year that comes. The Marine Terminal runs huge deficits as we subsidize Weyerhauser and the longshore union. The Fuel Dock consistently runs deeply in the red as we subsidize boat owners with high quality premium gasoline. I could go on...
My point is that we, the property tax owners of Thurston County who OWN the Port of Olympia and all of it's assets and who pay taxes to prop up Port businesses which ALWAYS LOSE MONEY EVERY YEAR could easily provide the real estate and services/infrastructure to support RVs IF WE REALLY WANTED TO!!!
Tuesday, August 25 Report this
CobraCommander
TheVirtualOne - Really curious to hear you apply your view to national politics
Tuesday, August 25 Report this
Southsoundguy
Watch as more RVs start showing up everywhere.
Tuesday, August 25 Report this
TheVirtualOne
SnakeCharmer - Bernie Sanders should be forced to
give away 90% of his birthday cake. How’s that?
Tuesday, August 25 Report this
CobraCommander
Bernie - approx $2-3 million
https://ballotpedia.org/Net_worth_of_United_States_Senators_and_Representatives
Trump - $2.4 BILLION
https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/trump-family-corruption-tracker
You really need to read and not just spew
Tuesday, August 25 Report this
JnNwmn
Unless Lacey and Tumwater and the County help, the cost is all on Olympia residents.
Thursday, August 27 Report this
LindaD
BevBassett - An interesting perspective! The Port could create small, alternative housing that you suggest - RV parking, maybe even tent and car park sites with the amenities like they do for boats. They could rent those spaces like they rent boat spaces and at least defray the costs. Yes, it's a little more complex than that, but it's surely worth consideration.
Thursday, September 3 Report this