Battle Ground Eases RV and Trailer Parking Rules in Residential Areas

City Council approves changes to 1995 code, removing some restrictions while adding new clarifications.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 12:11am

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A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration featuring a repeated icon of a recreational vehicle or trailer, rendered in a vibrant, high-contrast pop art style that captures the spirit of the city's new parking regulations.The Battle Ground City Council's updated rules aim to give residents more flexibility in parking their recreational vehicles and trailers on private property.Battle Ground Today

The Battle Ground City Council has approved changes to a 1995 city code regulating where residents can park recreational vehicles and trailers. The new rules remove the requirement that such vehicles must be parked behind the front building line of a home, while adding new clarifications aimed at easing restrictions. The changes come after some residents expressed concerns about government overreach, though the council says the goal is to make the code more relaxed.

Why it matters

The updated parking rules reflect a balance between residents' property rights and the city's need to address traffic safety and walkability concerns. The changes come after years of the existing 2004 code, which was originally adopted in 1995, and aim to provide more flexibility for homeowners while still maintaining some regulations.

The details

The ordinance amends section 17.135.150 of the Battle Ground Municipal Code, which governs the storage of recreational vehicles and trailers in residential districts. Among the most notable changes is the removal of the requirement that such vehicles must be parked behind the front building line of a home. The new language also explicitly prohibits recreational vehicles and trailers from extending into the public right-of-way or obstructing sight visibility.

  • The Battle Ground City Council approved the changes at its April 6, 2026 meeting.
  • The updated code is scheduled to take effect on May 7, 2026, 30 days after the ordinance's approval.
  • The city plans to roll out an education and outreach campaign to inform residents about the changes in the coming weeks.

The players

Battle Ground City Council

The governing body of Battle Ground, Washington that approved the changes to the city's recreational vehicle and trailer parking rules.

Matthew Luster

A Battle Ground resident who expressed concerns about government overreach during the public hearing on the proposed changes.

Eric Overholser

The mayor of Battle Ground who provided clarification to residents on the purpose of the ordinance.

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What they’re saying

“Ordinance 2026-04 is an overreach of private property. We all pay our mortgages, our property taxes, sales tax, all the taxes we pay and you guys are trying to dictate where we can park trailers on our private property.”

— Matthew Luster, Battle Ground resident

“I will clarify, the ordinance that we are looking at adopting is to amend and relax the existing ordinance that has been in place for many years. And so, just to clarify, and I am not sure if it needs clarification or not, but I feel like it might. … So, the idea is that we are trying to make it more relaxed.”

— Eric Overholser, Mayor of Battle Ground

What’s next

The Battle Ground City Council has directed staff to return with a follow-up report one year after the new rules take effect, including updates on how the changes have impacted code enforcement and compliance.

The takeaway

The updated parking rules in Battle Ground aim to strike a balance between residents' property rights and the city's need to address traffic safety and walkability concerns. While some residents expressed concerns about government overreach, the council says the goal is to make the code more relaxed and flexible for homeowners.