During its June 1 study session, Wheat Ridge City Council reviewed two code enforcement issues with public safety implications: recreational vehicle (RV) parking in parks and updates to the city’s massage business licensing rules.
The first discussion focused on proposed amendments to the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws that would regulate RV parking in city parks, trails, open spaces and recreation areas. The ordinance would update the city’s definition of a recreational vehicle and restrict RV parking to posted open hours and designated areas.
The proposed ordinance would set a maximum parking duration of three consecutive days and clarify that moving a vehicle within the same park or recreation area would not restart the clock. Under current rules, the clock resets each time a vehicle moves even a short distance away, enabling it to stay for weeks.
City staff said the goal is to prevent long-term occupancy in public spaces while giving police clearer authority to enforce the rules.
“Our community has observed an increase in parking durations in recent years,” said Division Chief Eric Kellogg. “Extended RV stays have affected access to recreational use, and concerns have been raised regarding public access displacement and some of the health and safety concerns that are associated with long-term camping,” he said.
City staff also acknowledged that housing instability is a broader regional challenge. Wheat Ridge’s Homeless Navigation Program can connect people experiencing hardship, including those temporarily staying in vehicles, with support services and other resources, including safer or more appropriate overnight options.
Council reviewed the item as a policy discussion and reached consensus to move it forward, but did not take a final vote. If approved, the ordinance would become effective 15 days after final publication.
The second topic focused on the tension of massage business licensing. Wheat Ridge adopted local regulations in 2020 after concerns increased across the metro area. City Attorney Gerald Dahl told council that recent state legislation, including HB 24-1371 and SB 25-146, requires updates to the city code.
The most significant change is a fingerprint-based background check requirement tied to local licensing. Beginning July 1, fingerprints will be processed through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), creating a national criminal history check instead of relying on local law enforcement to manage the process.
Dahl said state law also requires local licensing standards to be no more restrictive than state standards. However, Wheat Ridge can keep its existing regulatory guidelines to help determine whether a license is granted, denied or revoked, including rules related to conduct, attire, facility layout and prohibiting residential use of massage establishments.
“We can accommodate statutes and still keep the city’s successful measures in place through regulation,” Dahl said.
Council reached consensus to move forward with Dahl’s recommendations.
Both topics are expected to return to council through the formal ordinance process for public comment and a vote.
