Cupertino will soon tighten restrictions on oversized vehicle parking after the City Council voted unanimously to approve a sweeping ordinance aimed at addressing long-standing concerns about RV encampments and street congestion.
The new rules expand the city’s code to explicitly prohibit recreational vehicles, large trailers, and buses from parking on city streets overnight between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., unless a household obtains a permit. Each Cupertino household will be allowed up to 20 free oversized vehicle permits per year, with each permit valid for 72 hours. Vehicles must then move at least 1,500 feet and cannot return to the same spot for at least three days.
Residents have expressed frustration over unencumbered overnight parking, which they consider a public nuisance. During public comment, resident San Rao said, “You’ve heard numerous times from residents on this topic… You have an obligation to the residents, not these RV dwellers.”
Councilmembers framed the vote as a balance between preserving neighborhood quality of life and offering limited flexibility for residents.
Mayor Liang Chao said that while she is sympathetic to the housing needs of the RV dwellers, “That does not mean they have the right to occupy our public streets 24/7.”
The Council directed staff to return after one year with a report on the policy’s impact. Residents and business owners who pushed for the changes said they hope the ordinance will finally provide relief from chronic oversized vehicle parking that has challenged enforcement for years.