The city failed to rehouse hundreds of families living in recreational vehicles before their permits expire in April. Rather than mass towing, San Francisco will issue renewals for another six months.
Last July, Mayor Daniel Lurie signed an ordinance banning large vehicles from parking on city streets for more than two hours. The law took effect in November. Violators face fines and towing.
For those who had been living in RVs before May 31, 2025, the city launched the Large Vehicle Refuge Permit program. Participants received a blue sticker for their rear window — a six-month permit exempting them from the two-hour limit. In exchange, they were required to work with a case manager and actively seek housing.
When the program launched, roughly 500 inhabited RVs were parked on city streets. About 271 households applied. The rest remained outside the program and subject to standard enforcement.
Five months in, the results fall well short of the goal. Only 81 to 82 households have been placed in housing. Another 169 RVs were towed — most of them in Bayview-Hunters Point. Some residents who lost their vehicles ended up on the street with nothing to show for it.
City officials acknowledge the housing supply hasn’t kept pace with demand. Some program participants were relocated outside San Francisco entirely — to Antioch, Oakland, and Sacramento.
Jean Pierre has been waiting for months. During an interview with ABC7, his case manager called — and again had nothing for him. “Show me a place I can move to and I’ll sign whatever papers you need,” he said.
Bob Kauffman, 70, has been towed three times during the program. Each time came with fines and impound fees. By his count, he has spent roughly $4,000 recovering his vehicles.
With permits set to expire in April, a city official confirmed to ABC7 that all program participants who haven’t been housed will receive automatic six-month renewals. No new applications required. Case managers will reach out directly. During the extension period, permit holders will not face penalties under the two-hour rule.
For those who never entered the program, nothing changes. Two hours, then the tow truck.
This is San Francisco’s second attempt to address RV dwellers on its streets. In 2024, then-Mayor London Breed tried a similar ban and backed down after protests from residents and advocates.
The current program was built around a deliberate sequence: house people first, then clear the vehicles. In practice, the housing hasn’t materialized. The permit extension is the city admitting as much.