Sunday, April 8, 2007
Town bans RV parking in residents' yards, driveways
Hardly a week passes in the USA that a community does not pass a law prohibiting RVs from being parked in residential neighborhoods along the curb, in driveways, or anywhere in sight of passersby. Antioch, Calif., is trying to clean up its image by cracking down on what it considers blight in residential neighborhoods. A law is now being enforced to ban boats, garbage cans and RVs anywhere on a resident's property where they can be seen from the street. Here's a TV news segment that sums up what is permitted and what is not permitted on a resident's property. What do you think? Please leave a comment.
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I think the picture speaks for itself. It's this type of slob that cause the problems for folks with otherwise neat, maintained yards that want to park a boat or RV.
ReplyDeleteThe ordinances should be aimed at asthetics, not objects.
If your rv is not a safety or health hazard, is well maintained and in your driveway on your property, I think it should be permitted. Eyesore of any kind should be corrected but I find it difficult to think an expensive rv parked in a driveway is an eyesore. If so, don't look.
ReplyDeleteI lived in a area down south that you could only paint your house one of five colors. No laundry on line thursday-sunday 12;00
ReplyDeletePM as it might offend a tourist. Grass not over 6" and they had a enforcer that watched. What a bunch of nuts. It has since gotten worse. Had my new TT on a commercial lot awating me to pick it up. Office had 145 complaints in one 1/2 days. It was a fishing area so boats in any shape were great. The place, a subdivison onGalveston Island. The owner want me to bring my old trailer and leave it there just to keep the local nuts stired up, wish now I had.
TireTramp
I agree with the ordinance as long as all vehicles are included. We have an ordinance in Stuart, FL that only singles out motorhomes. In other words, you can have as many cars operable or inoperable, as many boats in your front yard as you can fit. Just not any kind of "camping" vehicle. You can, how ever, put them behind a privacy fence in the back yard, which by the way, can still be viewed by the road, but only the top 2/3rds. But now there is a new ordinace on the table that even eliminates putting your "camping" vehicle in your privacy fenced back yard. Again, I stand behind my previous statement, it should be all or nothing...40' class A owner
ReplyDeleteIf cities want to ban keeping personal property on personal property, they should also provide secure storage for those residents affected by the ban free of charge.
ReplyDeleteI see this as a rights/responsibility issue. While recreational vehicle owners have a responsibility in keeping their neighbourhoods presentable, the city has a responsibility to it's residents to provide acceptable alternatives for restrictions placed on private property!
another case case of freedom lost,queitly,effecting only a few at a time,"it will end not with a bang, but with a wimper" T.s. Elliot
ReplyDeleteFrom what was shown, I don't think it is a bad idea... I now have to store my RV off my property. The storage fee is nominal and the RV is much safer behind a locked fence and at least looked at every day.
ReplyDeleteI am an rv owner and I agree 100% with the restrictions. Your "toys" should in the rear or side yard behind a fence or gate along with your garbage pails. It's called "pride of ownership" in the housing industry.
ReplyDeletewe have similar laws in Hamden Ct-anything longer than 19 feet is not allowed in front. By courtesy they don't inforce this unless a neighbor complains. But if that happens, you have 24 hours to move it. We rent a spot for it in the next town. As for the rest of the eyesores, I'd prefer not to live where I could see them either
ReplyDeleteI personally do not like people telling me what I can do with my property which inevitably takes from the value of it, however, I do understand these laws and their effort to preserve property values. As long as they don't outright ban them from my property and just require a decent looking screen around them, I have no problem with it.
ReplyDeleteThe video makes a good point about how messy a yard could look with such things in it. I don't like the idea of having to put my MH in a storage lot though.
ReplyDeleteWhen I bought mine I made a place that was neat and out of the way next to my garage. The yard looks less cluttered that way. If the item is in a place that is neat and out of the way I don't see an issue.
To give the city more power to rule over such things makes me nervous. What would be next? I can't park my car in my driveway overnight without a garage?
I TOTALLY disagree with these new and quite common ordinances. These regulations started with condos &"gated communities" and that's where they should stay. If you are that particular about what your neighborhood looks like, buy property in one of these places. I can agree with an ordinance that limits the amount of vehicles visable, but otherwise believe that it is your property and you should have the right to store all of your "toys" on-sight. Storage is one more expense that will make it difficult for some people to enjoy their favorite hobby. Camping, boating, hot-rods, etc. Too much over-regulation! Are they going to tell me next, that the color of my car clashes with my house? Every generation,this society gets more & more uptight. People are becomming perfect little robots in perfect little communities. Enough already!
ReplyDeleteI agree with the city. Appears that the parking of RV's Trailer's, inoperable Vechicles and piling trash around the homes is out of control. They are being fair about this problem.
ReplyDeleteThey are only being fair about it if you're allowed to park in your backyard out of sight which I have a totaling close fenced in yard and no one can really see it back there we pay too much in taxes and we can use our yard for nothing
DeleteThis is really a dilema posing a tough decision in a lot of cities. Burbank, CA is one of those cities and I understand TO A DEGREE. If the cities are going to ban rv parking, they should serve up some of their land for use by the residents for a very minimal fee. It seems to me these advocates have a conflict of interest.... don't let them park on THEIR property or the streets so they HAVE TO PAY to park on mine!
ReplyDeleteThis is really a dilema which requires a tough decision. As an RVer and as one who dislikes the mess of cars and junk in neighbors' yards and drives, I can understand both sides. But, I have a hard time thinking the gov't can tell me what to do on my own property. It seems to me that the powers that be have a conflict of interest or are in cahoots with someone, somewhere, because they make the laws so that we can't park on our own property so that we HAVE TO PAY BIG $$ to park on THEIRS! If a city bans RV parking, it should have to divy up some of their land for inexpensive parking for the RESIDENTS, such as Sun City, AZ does.
ReplyDeleteI agree those yards really looked bad....Wouldn't want to live next door...With this being said I do think if a RV can be parked in a driveway or side yard it should be OK....It's all the extra junk that makes the neighbor hood look bad. Junk cars are a big NO,NO
ReplyDeleteI own a 2005 30' travel trailer. I don't mind having to park it at a storage facility for the majority of the time I don't use it. The problem that I have is that our ordinance states you can only park it for 36 hours in your driveway on a floating 7 day peroid. Try packing for a month long trip in 36 hours while you finish working before your vacation starts. Also don't try to do any maintaince, then the neighbors complain that you are "working" on it in the neighborhood, not at a repair facility. This in includes doing the winterizing.
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice if we could all live together without having so many rigid rules.
Some of the pictures are really bad. But we are seeing only the specific items. What does the est of the targeted area look like? Perhaps there are some homes that are as bad disrepair as the items that were photographed. Does the city have enforcement on those? Couple of the pitures look like duplicates.
ReplyDeleteWe live in a 50+ community with several hundred RV's. The HOA wisely allows RV's to park up to three days/two nights in the street, once each week. The RV can be used for loading or sleeping during that time. The community also provides RV storage spaces with dump facilities at the back of the community. A workable solution that seems to not offend anyone.
ReplyDeleteMorris
Where do you live?
DeleteIagree that RVs and other toys, like boats, etc., should be parked behind the rear edge of the house. I don't think they should have to be "unseen from the street" if they are parked further back than the back corner of the house.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with the individual who said that the ban should be based on aesthetics rather than a general ban. I can see the fact that some people have different considerations on what they view to be appeasing, but for the most part I think most people could agree. I would have no problem if my neighbor bought a Prevost/Marathon and parked it in his driveway, in fact he would probably have more of a problem with me constantly staring at it. Personally I don't want to be looking at something that is falling apart on the street or an individual's driveway.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't do much good to complain to this blog, why not write to the city farthers and tell them what you think. DA
ReplyDeleteI think there should be some regulations only because some people, as evidenced by the pictures, don't care how their property looks and what it does to the value of everyones property. I don't mind boats, rv etc. behind a privacy fence. We have a Class A motorhome, live on 3 acres and have the pad lined with large evergreens so our neighbors don't have to look at the MH.
ReplyDeleteIf i'm going through anytown with a law like that, I will drive through it with-out stoping. They don't need my business
ReplyDeleteI've lived in neighborhoods that permit anything anytime anywhere and I now live in a neighborhood that permits nothing, nowhere, at no time. My 38' 5th wheel is stored in a local storage lot when not in use, and my vote is that that is where it belongs, not in the neighborhood---even though I would prefer to have it at home.
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad that we don't own a home/property and don't have to deal with the mess. We travel 365.
ReplyDeleteIf an item doesn't run, it should be removed, otherwise, if it fits, it should be allowed.
There are 2 different places in Florida where 2 of our friends live that we can't drive into their subdivision because we drive a pick up truck.
The person that asked if next they would be told their vehicle clashed with the color of their house is probably predicting the future.
Wait a minute ,here we are supposed to live in a free society yet most of the comments about this issue of parking thinks it is ok to ban rv's cars and other "toys "in thier nieghborhoods ,sounds more like economic profiling to me only the well off can afford the perfect rv and the storage space rent for them as well .where i live it runs about three dollars a foot add to that increased insurance rates since the rv will be unattended when not being used ,monthly payments the cost of rv'ing can only be afforded by the affluent or retired as familys will be singled out ,for those using words like slobs ,eyesore ,etc are really saying you do not have the right to be an individual so i am going to look down on you .try looking thru gods eyes before you pass judgement ,i say if you want to live where you are not looking at something in your nieghbors yard that does not fit your taste or offends your eyes .move start a community for those that think like you and stop trying to take away the rights of alll for one day when all your rights are gone you will only have your selves to blame .common sense is being killed off slowly and only a few of us can hear it's pain !!!
ReplyDeleteThis country is amazing. Who would want to live anywhere else?
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, we are a diverse people. Not everyone can afford the big shiny RV. People who RV together are spending quality time as a family. Just because the unit they own is not top of the line doesn't mean that they should be penalized for wanting to enjoy RVing. LOOK at the houses and neighborhoods they are parked in. There is no Fleetwood with slides there. If you are paying the taxes and you live there, it is YOUR property. We all live at our own level of poverty, don'w we?
I would NEVER want to live in a gated snobby,can't fly a flag or paint your house unless it conforms, community.
CONFORMS! I am an indivual. not a cookie cut out to be just like everyone else THANK GOD!
I guess the more money you have the bigger and more exclusive you become. So maybe you NEED to have more rules to feel like you made it.
Personally, I feel like I made it when I didn't need to conform any longer.
When I sold my old C class to a woman with kids that would spend years making memories, it felt wonderful. Now our big A class with slides is wonderful. But the memories we made in the old C class were some of the best of our lives. I know how much we loved it and was happy to pass it on.
LIGHTEN UP! Barbara.
I lived in a Sub-Division in Missouri City, TX with the same rules. We built a 6 1/2 high fence and parked it back there but you had those in the neighborhood that complained each and every time we pulled it out to wash it even though we kept and improved are property yearly. Well, we sold the house and didn't care what type of people moved in on them. IT IS A SHAME THAT YOU BUY PROPERTY AND SOMEONE ELSE HAS THE RIGHT TO COME IN AND TELL YOU WHAT TO DO WITH IT!!!! There should be a law against that!!!! Now I move my home whenever I want!
ReplyDeleteIn my city as long as the RV/Reccreational vehicle is behind the front of the home on a hard surface you can park it. But the slobs that let their property go like that, would you want to live next door to them?
ReplyDeleteRegulation is the wrong place for these requirements. They belong in property restrictions that are part of the property deed. When subdivisions are formed, the initial owners can sell the property with deed restrictions that remain permanently. If one does not want the restriction, don't buy the property. Zoning restrictions imposed after the fact are like the new regulations. They are unfair to the current owner.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that the neighborhood looks nicer with the trash cans behind the fence and the junk cars removed, though. But, this is not a health and safety issue.
How about a tax on junk cars and trash cans? That would get things removed!
John Andrews, Knoxville, Tennessee
Agree that the "bigger picture" is the progressive erosion of private property rights. We have a house painted lime-green in our neighborhood. The owners like it. I think it is hideous. But, they have the right to do it and I think that that "right" is more important to preserve than calming my assaulted sensibilities by passing more restrictive governmental regulations.
ReplyDeletei agree with this, strong head on this persons shoulders! what makes them or ur nieghbors personal prefrences think they have any right to what i do on my property,becuase in reality u may not like that rv/boat/ car but i dont like your three kids rideing bike in the road and being noisy while your wife screams at them all day ! may we then tell them to shut your wife up becuase shes ruins the atmosphere of our block or that you must take ur unparetned children to the park if they are to play outside? Food for thought
DeleteI agree that slobs like in the picture should have to remove the items
ReplyDeleteBut I DO NOT agree with some cities
that want to ticket an RV'er when -parked in front of their home, charging their batteries and up loading for a trip.
Slobs have cost otheir people a chance to park over night at some WAL_MARTS,
While I can agree with the issues of property value and eyesores etc, these laws make it difficult for the owner of the RV to provide any sort of upkeep for thier units, forcing them not only to store their vehicle at a yard but if they are lucky, work on them if they need maintainance too! Many storage places do not allow you to do any work on your RV because of insurance issues. Same with many RV Parks.
ReplyDeleteWe all know that RV's are a little like boats, in that they constantly need maintainance and upkeep. If you cant work on it in your own driveway or where you store it, or where you camp it..... we are all FORCED to take it to a dealer, and we know how hard they work to make us happy don't we.
Our Southwind is a registered motor vehicle, we pay taxes to buy it, taxes to drive it, license it, pay to park it when traveling, we like to keep it in our driveway to save a lot of money on storage. We use it several times a week as a vehicle to go to the store or on weekends to go to the harbor or on outings with our grandson. We both drive and would need a third vehicle if the RV was not at the house for use.We feel that we can keep it better mainained than if we had to keep it in storage. No one in our neighborhood has ever complained.
ReplyDeleteI am a fan of RV's but must say I do not want this kind of neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteIf aesthetics could be enforced, it would be okay. However, since any type of aesthetics enforcement would be subjective, there would not be fair and equal enforcement. Thus, the only objective solution is a clear cut ordinance banning rv's boats etc from driveways and streets. If you can afford an rv, you should budget to pay for storage.
Fifteen years ago I lived in a town that did restrict rec. vehicles on the street. Did not have, and did not intend to get one.
ReplyDeleteThe feeling was, I think, that the large units, we had had a trailer living in the street across from us, were taking up parking places that were needed by others.
The person had to make a concrete/cement/? pad next to their driveway to get it off the yard.
This seemed like a good solution to me. It was neat and nice, and yet we had parking if we had company. I was neutral about the ordinance, and now that I have an RV(small class-C dolphin, probably it would be looked down on by those neighbors. But it sits at the back of the driveway under the trees, and doesn't hurt anyone. In fact we get 'high'fives' from some neighbors for having one. They even sometimes ask about how to get one, how much does it cost, etc., does it work, etc. It is about the only communication we have with the busy people in our neighborhood.
We saw a community once, Scottsdale, AZ ? that was just terrible. All the houses were the same color, same models. How often do people go into the wrong house? How boring, conforming, lack of imagination, monotonous, dull, etc. etc. Looked like an upscale government housing project, like the 'projects' the lower-class people want to move out of.
the video seems to be one sided. I didn't see anything of rv'ers or boaters who do maintain their property and equipment. No I wouldn't like to be next door to a slop. Are they going to add where you can place your Garbage cans also. If your not going to maintain you should be summonsed
ReplyDeleteTypical small town elected "officials" who let a little power go to their head. If it is my property and not a swafety hazard go get a life.
ReplyDeleteTwo suggestions:
ReplyDelete1. Issue blinders to all who drive where these "eyesores" are parked,so they could avoid seeing what must not be seen, or,
2. Remember the old 'false front' stores in old western towns? How about false fronts erected in front of RV's, etc, with soothing scenery painted on them to hide what must not be seen? Everybody could be happy!
"Ordinances should be aimed at asthetics..."?! - you mean attributes of appearance like color of skin? You mean like banning fat people from the public beach and prohibiting kids with crooked teeth from smiling at school? Who decides what asthetics are legal? New Nazis? My RV is old and may not be "pretty," but it's legal, it's my home, it runs well and is safe. If someone buys property with an HOA, that's thier choice, but not mine. Please let us know where these Anti-American cities are so we may avoid them.
ReplyDeletePeople make choices. I live in a community with restrictions. My choice. If a person wishes their neighborhood to be "pleasing to the eye", there have to be rules and they be enforced. Who wants a 45 ft long RV parked across the street? Maybe next week it would be a tractor-trailer with double trailers. The pictures "speak for themselves". I keep my RV in a storage facility and only have it home the day before and day of return from a trip. My neighbors deserve a nice looking neighborhood and we all should be more considerate of one-another.
ReplyDeleteWell I don't know about you but I don't constantly stare out my window all day long and look at people's RVs and stuff in their yard as a matter fact if you go anywhere you see big tractor-trailer trucks and cars and buses and all sorts of vehicles Why is this such a big issue anyhow. I don't get it. also it's hurting the RV industry the boating industry and any other industry that they don't allow you to park in your yard. it's quite ridiculous the economy suffering and suffering because of it,and the livelihood of many families especially with small children it's a wonderful thing to get into with children and families it builds memories and keeps families busy together.
DeleteEven some peoples regular cars look like hell in the front of the yard in their driveway the ones that are registered and run! My city used to have where you could park it on the side in the backyard now they say nowhere at all in your yard when you pay thousands of dollars every year in taxes. Well I've quite had it with all these petty little regulations on every little thing. It's not a smell it's not garbage riding in thrown all over the place you drive anywhere near us is massive amounts of traffic and loads of vehicles!
I think if the rv or boat is well kept you can park it on your driveway.We, the ones that keep up our stuff in good shape pay the prize for the SLOBS that park their pieces of junk on their driveways for everyone to see their well mantained posesions.Those are the ones that shouldn't be allowed to park on their driveways. Take it and park it at a Junk Yard suitable for what is worth.
ReplyDeletei can see that coming to our little town, DeSoto Ks (pop 4000). The city fathers have had some motor home owners tear down their carports (motorhome-ports) cause they were too big. i don't know about all this....
ReplyDeleteOur town of Independence Mo. doesn't like RVs parked closer to the street than the front of the house. We found a solution that has saved us money and saved our RV. When ever we are home we store our RV in a commercial cave. There are several commercial caves around the Kansas City Mo area.
ReplyDeleteAn RV parked outside in this part of the country gets a lot of abuse from the Weather. The Sun bakes and fades everything, including paint. Storms cause hail dents and break roof vents. Winters allow water in cracks and freezes. This opens cracks wider everytime it freezes causing water damage. Not to mention frozen water lines. Our RV parked in a cave comes out clean if we puy it away clean. We never have to winterize, caves stay about 56-58 degrees. Our current RV is 4 years old and looks like New. Caves are great!!
Yes but at what cost? I have a $500 cover Tyvek and that helps with the weather and such I see no need to put it indoors all the new cars and all the dealership lots always outside. And yes of course it it may be better to keep it indoors but it's a lot of money for people the economy is bad or just struggling to buy a wrong we lucky we can afford the RV in the other stuff that goes along with it! The cost never ends when you own an RV because you have gas and you still have to pay for many other items that are unseen.
DeleteAnd this is something that is not easy for some people especially a single people with one income.
For several years I kept my rv in storage during the winter months. It was broken into and after a loss of almost $8K I decided to keep it at my house. It cost $4500 to have a pad made, and now I have access 365 days a year. Based on what some of these people think I wouldn't be able to have it there because it sticks pass the front of my garage that it's parked next to.
ReplyDeleteI find it harder and harder to accept the things that are being forced down our throats. Don't like the color red, get your counsel to pass a local ordinance against the color red. Where have the rights of the people of this country gone? I pay my taxes, I work every day, I don't break the law, yet I'm forced to wear blue because the guy next door doesn't like red...Junk is junk, if it's a question of unsightly items on a property, address that issue and don't make it about recreational vehicles. I for one would refuse to move my rv from my house, and would fight for the right to have it there. We had better take a stand against this erosion of our fundamental rights.
For several years I kept my rv in storage during the winter months. It was broken into and after a loss of almost $8K I decided to keep it at my house. It cost $4500 to have a pad made, and now I have access 365 days a year. Based on what some of these people think I wouldn't be able to have it there because it sticks pass the front of my garage that it's parked next to.
ReplyDeleteI find it harder and harder to accept the things that are being forced down our throats. Don't like the color red, get your counsel to pass a local ordinance against the color red. Where has the rights of the people of this counrty gone? I pay my taxes, I work every day, I don't break the law, yet I'm forced to wear blue because the guy next door doesn't like red...Junk is junk, if it's a question of unsightly items on a property, address that issue and don't make it about recreational vehicles. I for one would refuse to move my rv from my house, and would fight for the right to have it there. We had better take a stand against this erosion of our fundamental rights.
I find that if RVs and boats are clean, and not parked in the street should be ok. It cost me $31/2 afoot to store my rv and not near my home. The pics shown show long heavy weeds. It shows these people don't care about the looks of the property. I did not see any new RVs pictured. The enjoyment of owning your own home is to be able to use it for your convienence and enjoyment. But keeping it neat and clean and off the street is the big problem.
ReplyDeleteHello from San Diego.
ReplyDeleteWe have a 72 hour law that is randomly inforced. The only law inforced is the Curb your Wheels(Gets the City a $41 Fine).
I like the idea of putting your RV along side the home and have a fence 0r gate in front of it. You can make a very nice screen with a 6Ft high Chain Link gate with flowered vines growing on it. It can be open when needed and yet hides your RV/Yard from view.
Our biggest problem which the city council will not fix is the large(Last estimate was over 150)number of people living in RV's around our bays. They take up all the prome handicapped spots and scenic places day and then move up and sleep in front of our home during the night. I can come home after 9pm and not be able to park in front of my home.
I think the video shows a lot of people do not have the old pride of ownership in thier home and that the Antioc type of law is really required.
I think that anyone who makes or even agrees with these laws should not be allowed to live in a free country! They are communists of the worst kind, and I would as soon shoot them as listen to their Bolshevik bullshit! If you don't like my "junk," then move out of my way.
ReplyDeleteBruce
If you're complaining about the cost of boat storage or RV storage, then you can't afford your toy anyway. These costs are part of the total cost of ownership.
ReplyDeleteI don't want to look out my front window and see your POS boat or RV in your driveway everyday. I especially don't want your toys in plain sight when I'm trying to move out of the neighborhood.
Boats belong in the water...not in your driveway. Get them out of the neighborhoods. PERIOD.
This is not entirely true because you still can afford it because once everything is paid and your insurance is paid is just your trips you have to prioritize when you can go when you can afford it what month you don't have to do maintenance and less you're driving it all the time or something breaks which doesn't really break if it's sitting there so you still find time to enjoy it maybe not as much as wealthier people
DeleteIf you can't afford to store your "toys" off the property, why buy in the first place? Most storage places are not that expensive really. If you want to live like a barbarian, move to the country.
ReplyDeleteThat's hardly living barbaric as I stated before everywhere you go you see tractor-trailer trucks and they're very loud too and I'm noxious by the way so our Harleys with your loud pipes and buses and whatnot everywhere you go you see diff and I say as long as it's not junkie and totally dilapidated and not garbage or older it should be allowed it's called diversity some people have boats some people have RVs and other people have Mercedes or trucks
DeleteIf your rv can see over my 6 foot fence than you are invading my privacy and shouldn't be able to park a rv in a side or backyard . If you buy it plan on paying to park it or don't buy it . Parking a rv at your house when you only us it a few weeks out of the year then just park it does it need to be in your yard ? Like you need it to be that close
ReplyDelete