A homemade camper is Bellingham’s latest online obsession. Here’s what city law has to say

A wooden camper fastened to the top of a car has been the talk of Bellingham social media recently. The car has inspired Facebook posts and spirited Reddit threads debating everything from the safety of the car to its legality.

But does city law have any rules that regulate homemade campers? And if so, how can you tell if a car is street legal?

State law has limits on campers; city law doesn’t

According to Megan Peters, public information officer for the Bellingham Police Department, the city enforces state laws that regulate how tall or wide a camper can be, but doesn’t have any laws of its own on the topic.

“Vehicle specs, to include specs for campers, are governed by [the Revised Code of Washington],” Peters said in an email to the Bellingham Herald. “Campers are required by state law to be licensed. In addition, they are required to have lighting attached in certain locations.”

You can register a camper with the Department of Licensing. Homemade campers are legal, but they have to pass an inspections by the Washington State Patrol . In order to be approved, a vehicle needs to have the following parts:

• Engine and short blocks

• Frame

• Transmission or transfer case

• Cab

• Door

• Front or rear differential

• Front or rear clip

• Quarter panel

• Truck bed or box

• Seat

• Hood

• Bumper

• Fender

• Airbag

You’ll also need WSP’s Inspection Request Form, photo ID and a title or the receipts for any major parts.

Height and weight limits

RCW 46.44 sets a height limit of 14 feet for cars and campers. Length can’t exceed 40 feet for most vehicles, although busses, travel trailers and mobile homes have a little more leeway. Tractors and semitrailers aren’t allowed to exceed 53 feet, while a truck and trailer can reach up to 75 feet.

Additionally, any load attached to a car can’t extend more than three feet past the front wheels, or 15 feet beyond the axle of the rear wheels.

Any load on top of a passenger vehicle can’t extend more than 6 inches past the fender on the right side of the car, or past the fender on the left hand side at all

There are weight limits as well. Four-wheel vehicles are capped at 34,000 pounds, assuming the axles are less than 8 feet apart.

Even if your car doesn’t meet every criteria, you can get an exemption from the Department of Transportation if they think one is justified, according to state law.

What if your vehicle does violate the law?

If you’re found to have violated any of these requirements, you’re subject to a fine. However, according to Peters, law enforcement often allows drivers a chance to avoid the penalty if they make their vehicle comply with state law.

“A lot of equipment violations are handled through fix-it tickets, which offers a grace period for a motorist to bring vehicles into compliance,” Peters said. “It incentivizes motorists to put their money toward fixing a violation instead of paying a fine. The goal is for motorists to have voluntary compliance with RCWs and licensing.”