Recreational and utility vehicle parking in Fort Smith is governed by Section 14-55 of the Fort Smith Municipal Code, which makes it unlawful to park travel trailers, motor homes, truck campers, horse trailers, boat trailers (with or without boats) and utility trailers on residential streets or in the front or exterior side yard setback area as defined in Chapter 27 (Unified Development Ordinance). Limited exceptions allow temporary parking in setbacks for up to four days and guest use for up to two weeks per 90-day period.
Fort Smith is the second-largest city in Arkansas (approximately 89,000 population) and the seat of Sebastian County. Recreational and utility vehicle storage on residential lots is regulated under Section 14-55 of the Fort Smith Municipal Code (Chapter 14, Miscellaneous Provisions and Offenses). The ordinance defines recreational and utility vehicles to include travel trailers, folding tent trailers, motor homes, truck campers removed from a truck or pickup, horse trailers, boat trailers with or without boats, and utility trailers. It is unlawful to park such a vehicle on any street or right-of-way classified as residential or as a residential collector by the city master street plan, or in a front or exterior side yard setback area as defined in Chapter 27 (Unified Development Ordinance) on any property zoned residential or utilized for residential purposes. The Code provides three limited exceptions: (1) a recreational or utility vehicle may be temporarily parked in the identified building setbacks for no more than four days; (2) it may be parked under a carport or structure approved by the Board of Zoning Adjustment or that exists as a legal non-conforming structure; and (3) guests may reside in a recreational or utility vehicle on the host's premises for no longer than two weeks in any 90-day period, with parking in setbacks permitted during that period. The companion screening rule at Section 14-52 governs vehicles parked on residentially zoned property generally. Section 14-50 requires that vehicles be registered to park on residential streets and that they be moved every 72 hours.
Violations of Section 14-55 are enforced by Fort Smith Neighborhood Services with citation, notice and a follow-up compliance window; continued violations are prosecuted as misdemeanors in Fort Smith District Court under the general penalty provisions of the Fort Smith Municipal Code. Vehicles improperly parked on residential streets may be tagged, ticketed and towed under Chapter 24 (Traffic) and Arkansas Code Β§27-50-1201 et seq. (removal of unattended or abandoned vehicles).
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