RV owners, get out your measuring tapes.

Longterm parking for recreational vehicles larger than 25 feet long or 6 feet 8 inches wide or 6 feet 10 inches tall won't be allowed on city streets after this year.

The ban includes recreation and other types of vehicles that aren't pickup trucks, emergency or public service vehicles, or vehicles displaying a disabled license plate or placard. Loading, unloading, deliveries, emergency repairs, active construction or maintenance work at an adjacent property are allowed as well.

Parking of oversized vehicles will be prohibited on public streets Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., holidays excluded, in all areas of the city unless a temporary five-day permit is obtained from the Thousand Oaks Police Department. No more than 10 days of parking will be allowed in any 90-day period.

A $100 fine will be imposed on those who don't follow the rules.

On July 14 the City Council voted 41 in favor of the ordinance, with Andrew Fox dissenting. Fox said he thought there should be consideration for people such as landscapers whose livelihood requires them to bring a large truck home every day.

Good Sam Club, an RV owner club, opposes parking RVs on public streets, said Sue Bray, the group's executive director.

"I think what the Thousand Oaks City Council did was fair. It's really sad a few people in Thousand Oaks created the problem by being irresponsible," Bray said.

Before the new ordinance, owners of oversized vehicles could get away with moving their motor homes or large trucks from street to street to circumvent a 72-hour parking limit.

But after Jan. 1, 2010, when the law goes into effect, a neighbor's complaint can stop that practice.

"This will only be complaintdriven," Thousand Oaks Police Capt. Randy Pentis said.

When the city gets a complaint—say on a Monday—an officer will go out the next day— in this case, on Tuesday. That means if an RV owner comes home on a Sunday night and waits until Monday night to unpack, they can park during the day Monday hassle-free. When the officer comes out on Tuesday and sees them unpacking, that's fine, too, police officials said, because unloading is permitted.

Thousand Oaks resident Robert Kaemmerling, who spoke during public comments at the meeting, compared the new law to a teacher's decision to make everyone in the class put their head down on their desks when a single student has been heard talking.

He said he doesn't like the increased bureaucracy that will require him to take out a permit before going on a trip. He said he needs time to charge the battery, fill tanks with water and make sure his trailer is fit for a trip.

The council and the police discussed putting the required process online to make it easier to obtain a permit.