Miramar eyes crackdown on RVs being used as homes in residential neighborhoods
A Miramar commissioner will lead a push at Wednesday’s commission meeting for the city to crack down on RVs parked outside homes being used as makeshift residences, a growing practice that officials say is straining neighborhoods and city resources.
Bottom line: Under the amended rules proposed, recreational vehicles parked in Miramar would no longer be allowed to serve as homes in residentially zoned areas. It’s unclear if the city has counted how many RVs are being used as dwellings.
The measure, sponsored by Commissioner Yvette Colbourne, will be up for first reading April 22 before the full commission. Colbourne has not responded to a request for comment from the Miramar News, though she has long been interested in addressing the issue.
During a November commission meeting, Colbourne expressed concern over the growing number of parked RVs and vape shops in the city.
The proposal would overhaul portions of the city’s parking and zoning code. The changes are designed to close loopholes that officials say have allowed property owners to bypass regulations by placing RVs on residential lots and renting them out as living spaces.
The result, according to a memo to commissioners, has been added pressure on the city’s infrastructure, limited parking availability, and concerns about neighborhood safety and quality of life.
The main culprit, officials suggest, is the high cost of living in South Florida. City officials say it has shifted housing dynamics, with some single-family properties effectively accommodating more residents than permitted.
Money-strapped homeowners are also making extra cash renting their RVs.
In a memo supporting the proposal, Miramar Police Chief Delrish Moss wrote: “The existing code guidelines are being circumvented and misused in circumstances where RVs are being used as rental housing.
“This is causing a strain on utilities, usage, parking capacities, and an increase in the calls for services to some of these properties due to the unaccounted increase in residents in these single-family homes.”
The proposed amendment would provide additional safety measures, allow the city to inspect and regulate unauthorized additions, and better deter the deterioration of communities, Moss said.
In addition:
- Owners must register their vehicles with the city and sign an affidavit affirming the RV will not be used as a parked, permanent home.
- The ordinance would require RVs to display valid registration and license plates at all times.
- The measure includes a $300 fine for violations and authorizes city inspectors to access properties — after reasonable notice — to confirm compliance. Denying access would be considered a violation.
The ordinance is also intended to align Miramar’s rules with those of neighboring jurisdictions, including the introduction of a formal RV registration process. For example, Hialeah recently strengthened its RV rules for similar reasons.
The City Commission must still approve the measure in a final reading before it becomes law. If commissioners approve the measure on first reading Wednesday, it will return to the agenda for final approval at the May 20 meeting.
