The legislative intent and purpose of this chapter are:

(1)  To provide a safe environment in urban, rural, and wilderness settings that will accommodate the full range of camping units desired by the consumer;

(2)  To allow the greatest latitude in designing recreational vehicle parks and campgrounds according to the desires of the recreational vehicle and camping public, while protecting the health and safety needs of that public;

(3)  To ensure that local government has the right and the duty to regulate zoning for recreational vehicle parks or campgrounds; and that the state has the right and the duty to regulate those building, plumbing, and fire protection elements for which national standards have been adopted under this code;

(4)  To meet the overall spirit of national codes adopted in this chapter by reference. Where slight differences in wording occur between this chapter and those of national codes, those differences are not intended to change the public health and safety goals of the national codes, but rather to foster consistency between code language and the terminology of the recreational vehicle park and campground industry and the recreational vehicle and camping public; and

(5)  To provide rules, regulations, requirements, and standards for the development of recreational vehicle parks and campgrounds in the state of Rhode Island for purposes of ensuring the following:

(i)  Protection of the public health, safety, and general welfare;

(ii)  Orderly growth and development, in conjunction with conservation, protection, and proper use of land;

(iii)  Proper provisions for all public facilities; and

(iv)  Appropriate local government control over the zoning and location of recreational vehicle parks and campgrounds in individual communities.