Homeless People Living in RVs in Portland Now Face $350 Towing Bills After City Scraps Fee Exemption
PORTLAND, Ore. — Homeless people living in RVs on Portland streets now face hefty fines if their vehicles are towed away for contravening city bylaws.
“Occupied vehicles line North Union Court in city-owned Delta Park … dozens of decaying RVs, cars and campers lined the road.”
Willamette Week
The previous concession of waiving towing fees for illegally parked RVs used as a primary residence has been scrapped, Laura Rude, a city spokesperson, confirmed.
Tow fees for illegally parked vehicles within the city limits range from $250 to $350, depending on the vehicle.
Portland’s RV and vehicle-dwelling population is a significant part of the broader homeless crisis.
Homelessness & Vehicle-Dwelling in Portland at a Glance
Sources: Portland Bureau of Homeless Services (2022); 2025 tri-county PIT count (Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington); KPTV report on 2025 homelessness rise – Dailytidings.com
A recent surge in unhoused counts shows how rapidly vehicle-dwelling and homelessness are rising across Greater Portland.
Source: 2025 PIT count, tri-county region (Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington) – Dailytidings.com
Towing crackdowns hit RV dwellers hardest since vehicle sheltering is one of Portland’s fastest growing homeless groups.
The scrapping of the previous concession to homeless people living in RVs follows a campaign by Portland Mayor, Keith Wilson, who regards these ‘shelters’ as unsanitary and unsafe.
Wilson is promoting the introduction of hundreds of additional overnight shelters for the homeless, offering them a controlled, safe, and sanitary roof over their heads.
How the Fines Process Will Operate
Tow notices will stipulate the fees payable. People can avoid the fine by moving the vehicle away from the tow zone.
However, if the RV is towed, a three-step process is enforced to reclaim the property.
- To obtain a release of the RV from the Portland Police Bureau, the claimant must produce a valid driver’s license, as well as proof of ownership and insurance.
- The next step is to call 503-823-1292 to make an appointment to meet an employee of the Portland Bureau of Transportation at the tow lot.
- Pay the fee and recover the vehicle at the tow lot.
Unclaimed RVs will be regarded as abandoned and will be destroyed at a cost of $97 per linear foot.