Buhl, Idaho Trailer Ordinance Update

The City of Buhl’s current trailer ordinance, which is only recently being actively enforced, does not reflect the practical realities or needs of our community. Many residences in Buhl are more than one hundred years old and were built without driveways or off-street parking. Under the ordinance as currently applied, residents in these homes are left with no lawful option for temporarily parking work trailers or travel trailers, even when such trailers are essential for their livelihood or for family travel.

This ordinance effectively prohibits a number of tradespeople, contractors, and service providers from being able to live or work in Buhl without facing continual risk of citation. Because each alleged violation may result in a separate infraction, the ordinance exposes residents to escalating fines for repeated or prolonged use, punishing those who are actively contributing to the local economy and community life.

We respectfully call upon the City Council to amend the ordinance to provide a fair and workable solution for residents:

1. 72-Hour Allowance – Permit work trailers and travel trailers to remain in residential areas for up to seventy-two (72) consecutive hours for purposes including loading, unloading, trip preparation, or necessary repairs.

2. Tradespeople Exemption – Provide an exemption for licensed contractors, tradespeople, and service-based businesses actively operating from their residence, thereby allowing them to park and utilize their work trailers at their home without penalty.

3. No Permits or Fees – These changes should not require additional permits, applications, or fees. Reasonable protections are already established under existing law.

It is important to note that the City of Buhl already enforces clear, common-sense restrictions on trailer and vehicle placement to protect public safety and access:

• Prohibition against parking on sidewalks (Buhl City Code §5-2-3(A)(2): “On a sidewalk”).

• Prohibition against blocking driveways (§5-2-3(B)(1): “In front of a public or private driveway”).

• Prohibition against parking within intersections (§5-2-3(A)(4): “Within an intersection”).

• Prohibition against obstructing alleys (§5-2-2: unlawful to park in an alley except when “actively loading or unloading,” and in no case exceeding fifteen (15) minutes).

Under current law, trailers may not be parked on city streets for any length of time apart from being “actively loading or unloading” (§5-2-2). The exisiting vehicle parking provisions already ensure safety and accessibility without imposing additional costs on residents. Extending these provisions to apply to trailers would offer a sufficient and practical solution — one that preserves community safety while also addressing the legitimate needs of Buhl’s working families and homeowners.

The amendment we seek is therefore not a relaxation of standards, but a refinement that acknowledges Buhl’s unique character as a small town with historic housing and working-class residents. It balances legitimate enforcement with fairness, ensuring that tradespeople, families, and travelers are not driven out of the community by ordinances that, as applied, are unworkable.

We, the undersigned, urge the Council to adopt this amendment in the interest of fairness, economic practicality, and community support.

Joshua Dowding, Buhl Resident, Business Owner    Contact the author of the petition