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City of Williston, ND
Williams County
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[Ord. No. 950, § 1, 6-26-2012]
(a) 
For the purposes of this article the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meaning given herein:
(1) 
CAMPER VEHICLE means a vehicle, whether factory or home built, whether on or off wheels, whether towed or carried on a motor vehicle or self-propelled, including, but not limited to, recreational vehicles, hitch mount pull behind trailers, pop up tent trailers, campers meant to be affixed to the bed of trucks and converted vehicles such as buses, trucks, or trailers. Such vehicles may be with or without complete kitchen and toilet facilities, self-contained water and sewage systems and designed to be used as a temporary dwelling for travel, recreation, or vacation use. "Camper vehicle" does not include mobile homes, manufactured homes, and "park models."
(2) 
PERSON - Means natural person, partnerships, associations, and all other bodies, corporate or public.
(3) 
WITHIN THE CITY OF WILLISTON -Includes, but is not limited to, city streets, commercial/industrial sites, private property, established residential neighborhoods, and construction sites.
(4) 
OCCUPY - Means to take residence in.
(5) 
OTHER FORM OF NONPERMANENT STRUCTURE - Includes, but is not limited to, mobile homes, manufactured homes, and park models.
(6) 
PARK MODELS - Means recreational homes primarily designed as temporary living quarters for recreation, camping or seasonal use. These homes are built on a single chassis and mounted on wheels. Each park model home is certified by the Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association member manufacturer as complying with ANSI A119.5, an RV building code.
[Ord. No. 950, § 2, 6-26-2012]
The purpose of this article is to limit the use of camper vehicles and other nonpermanent structures for permanent human habitation because it is the determination of the city commission that their use in the city for permanent human habitation is deleterious to the health, safety and welfare not only of the persons residing therein but, additionally, of the public at large. Portable heating devices, nonstandard electrical connections, a lack of approved sanitary facilities including, but not limited to, bathrooms with toilets, sinks or showers or bathtubs and standard kitchen facilities, among other facilities associated with safe places of permanent human habitation, all lend themselves to unhealthful, unsanitary and hazardous living conditions, if utilized for extended periods of time, occasioned in part because camper vehicles and other nonpermanent structures are not intended for use as places of permanent human habitation and do not adequately provide for the needs associated with human habitation.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this article shall make allowance for safe, comfortable and sanitary use of camper vehicles and other nonpermanent structures for short term, temporary use for human habitation purposes so as to facilitate enjoyment of camping, hunting, silviculture, and other out-of-door pursuits.
[Ord. No. 950, § 3, 6-26-2012]
(1) 
The use of any camper vehicle or other form of non- permanent structure for human habitation purposes within R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-6, R-7, M-1, M-2, M-3, C-1, C-2, and C-3 zoned areas, with the exception of those in construction sites described herein, in violation of this article shall result in the issuance by the City of Williston of a warning directed to the owner of the camper vehicle or other nonpermanent structure used for human habitation purposes, if ascertainable, or, if the owner cannot be identified, to the owner of the parcel of real estate upon which it is situated, informing that person or persons of the need to cease and desist from making use of the camper vehicle or other nonpermanent structure used for human habitation purposes.
(2) 
Any person who violates, disobeys, neglects, omits, tries willfully to circumvent the intent of the article, refuses to comply with the article, or resists enforcement of any of its provisions shall be guilty of a B misdemeanor, unless that person has met the approved guidelines set below for construction sites, as set by the planning and zoning department of Williston.
(a) 
The allowance is for recreational vehicles only.
(b) 
There will be a maximum of 10 units allowed, unless otherwise approved by the city building official. The following are the number of units allowed, per site, up to 10 units.
1. 
Single-family residential projects: one unit per 6,000 square feet of lot area.
2. 
Multi-family residential projects: one unit per six apartment units.
3. 
Commercial projects: one unit per 10,000 square feet of lot area.
4. 
Industrial projects: one unit per 10,000 square feet of lot area.
(c) 
The occupants of the recreational vehicle must obtain a permit issued by the building department every 30 days. Each permit is valid for a calendar month and must be renewed at the end of each month. Each permit must provide the make and model of the recreational vehicle, the license plate number, and the legal description of the property the recreational vehicle is to be located on, at the time of issuance of the permit. The cost of the monthly permit shall be $200 per permit. The application for the permit must be approved by the city building official.
(d) 
The holder of the permit shall abide by the following rules, or the holder will be found in violation of this article:
1. 
Portable restroom facilities must be provided on site.
2. 
Sites must be kept clean of trash and litter. Wastewater, including all liquid wastes, gray water, black water and mop water must be discharged into the city wastewater sewer system; or into an approved on-site sewage disposal or holding system, or other approved disposal site. Dumping or disposal of waste at other than approved specific sites shall result in fines or removal of the facility.
3. 
The location of the recreational vehicles on site must be approved by the City of Williston Building Department, with screening if required by the building official.
4. 
The occupants of the recreational vehicles must be construction workers for that particular site.
5. 
The units must be removed if legitimate written complaints are received by the City of Williston Building Department. If the units are not removed when requested, the City of Williston Building Department will have them removed and the cost to be assessed to the property.
6. 
Recreational vehicles must be removed and the site must be cleaned up before a certificate of occupancy will be issued by the City of Williston Building Department.
(3) 
The fine for violation of this ordinance is $500 per day, per camper vehicle.
[Ord. No. 950, § 4, 6-24-2012]
(1) 
Residents and family or friends who come to visit may temporarily occupy a camper vehicle on developed property, but may only do so for a period of seven days without a permit. Every person residing in a camper under this exception cannot exceed a total of 28 days of occupancy in a calendar year.