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This year over 2500 bills were introduced to the California legislature. More than we have seen in decades.

Historically, RV parks and campgrounds tend to fly under the radar avoiding some of those bills that wreak havoc on our counterparts, in the mobile home space however as more RV parks are moving to an extended stay model our industry is now suddenly being included in everything from Narcan dispensing, fee transparency, rent control, affordable housing bills and even updating the Special Occupancy Parks Act.  

As the state looks to “solve” the problem of not enough camping sites, brought about by its own inability to deal with state park registration issues, they have looked to RV parks for a solution but what they see is parks filled with long term residents. Without context, independent RV parks have taken on the look of affordable housing but what isn’t seen is that parks provide a service to the community. They house teachers for a season, line workers bringing new power, traveling nurses, and even state legislators. 

To a politician looking to expand travel and tourism it would appear that RV parks are not a reasonable option stating that “tourists do not want to vacation where others live”. So, they are removing our transient business for what they believe is a more suitable experience for the out of state traveler.

While on the other end of the bookshelf, legislators are forcing RV parks into full time affordable housing completely disregarding our travel and tourism segment. They see our industry as a solution to the housing crisis and perhaps even the homeless crisis. Little understanding is given to the “intent” by which a traveler chooses to stay at a park, and they are blissfully ignorant to the role RV parks play in supporting travel and tourism during the winter months when our parks fill with snowbirds.  

Between opposing legislation, RV parks are being bookended into a death spiral and it won’t stop here. When the unintended consequences start rolling in new legislation will be introduced to correct the inaccuracies of the bills on the table today. SOPA is on the table and if we don’t get involved with the process the legislators will do it for us.  

As an industry we must take a stand. It is time to encourage those parks that are not members to join us in support. It is time for you as members to get involved. And it is time to hold your board of directors accountable. 

We need to stop the spiral before it is too late.  

See you on the road. 

Dyana 

Last week, Woodall’s Campground Magazine, an industry partner of CalOHA’s, has released a FREE resource for RV park and campground owners/operators.

The “Campground Masterclass” series, the first of its kind in the industry geared toward park owners/operators, features classes on a wide range of subjects led by industry experts. The series is launching with six courses that are accessible for free just by setting up an account; Woodall’s plans to continue adding courses on a quarterly basis.

Ben Quiggle, editor of WCM, says the idea for the web series came from the various expos and conventions put on by the RV and camping industry throughout the year. He goes on to say, “Unfortunately, many park owners don’t have the time or resources to attend a state or national conference and that is why we are launching this masterclass series. We realized that we wanted to find a way to connect the industry experts WCM hears from at conferences with park owners/operators and this masterclass series was born.”

Each video is divided into 10-minute segments for park owners to watch and learn at their own pace. The first six installments include:

• Financing Your Dream – led by Paul Bosley, CEO of the Business Finance Depot

• Marketing to a Changed Consumer – led by Mark Koep, CEO and founder of Campground Views

• Insuring & Managing Risks in the Outdoor Industry – led by Irene Jones, program manager at Marshall & Sterling Insurance

• Personal Wealth Management for Park Owners – led by Kelsey Ponesse, a wealth planning advisor at Marshal & Sterling Wealth Advisors

• Protecting Your Park’s Reputation – led by Brad Ritter, founder of Ritter Public Relations

• Conservation Education Activities – led by Grant Emmert, founder of Cotinga Campground Counseling

Offering informational videos on a wide variety of subjects geared specifically toward park owners and operators, the Campground Masterclass series looks like it will be a valuable resource for the RV and campground industries in the coming months.

Check out the link below to learn more and to access the Campground Masterclass series for FREE!

Removing or evicting a guest from your park can be difficult, and in California, legislature provides ample rights to your guest and fewer rights for you, the operator/owner. 

The California RV Park Occupancy Law can be found under California Civil Code, Title 2, Part 2 of Division 2. Some attorneys or local law enforcement may not be familiar with RV Park Occupancy Law and may try to use other less stringent eviction codes. However, they do not apply.

California Outdoor Hospitality Association has created the Practical Guide to the Removal & Eviction Process to help guide you through the different processes that apply to RV parks. In quick summary, all removals or evictions are based on three essential time frames of a guest.

If a guest’s length of stay is:

• less than 30 days, the guest is an occupant and requires a 7 day notice for eviction (*civil code signage must be present for removal & eviction

• more than 30 days but less than 9 months, the guest is a tenant and requires a 30 day no cause eviction notice

• more than 9 months, the guest is a resident and requires a 60 day with cause eviction notice

The legal forms provided by CalOHA should be served in accordance with the RV Park Occupancy Law. With the help of Hart Kienle Pentecost and Rudderow Law Group, CalOHA has created forms to assist you with all three types of occupancy. 

Note: Proper use of these forms, when required, can save you time and protect you from potential legal problems and mistakes. The forms are for general usage only and are not a substitute for individualized documents and advice by legal professionals. Prior to using these forms, you should consult with your lawyer.



Take a look at the links below for eviction forms pertaining to each type of occupancy.

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