City release to clarify ticketing residents parked on their lawns…
In via e-mail from the City of Toledo:
Clarification regarding ticketing residents parked on their lawn
City Council amended TMC Sect. 351.07 to supposedly clarify parking on unpaved driveways due to nonconforming uses or variance. This amendment however, does not address the issue that has been recently discussed in the media, ticketing residents parked on their lawn. Most of what has been stated or reported is misleading or just plain wrong.
Therefore, to be clear and factual to our citizens we must inform the public that in accordance with TMC. 1726, parking on the grass on your front, back, or side yard is a nuisance and a ticket will be issued. Failure to move the vehicle or trailer or equipment parked on the grass will result in the vehicle being towed at the owner’s expense. Furthermore, any type of vehicle or machinery or trailer that is not street worthy, for example flat tires, broken windows, no motor, no license plate or an expired license plate is considered a nuisance violation regardless of where it is parked on the property if it is not in a covered building. The Ordinance just passed by council amendment to TMC Section 351.07 does not change our enforcement of vehicles parked on grass in your front, back, or side yard.
If a citizen should have any questions, regarding the legality of where they are parking their vehicle, please contact Bob Mossing, Manager of Code Enforcement at 419-245-1400.
We don’t have a drive-way, so we park on the street. A few years back, they were doing some work on the street so we couldn’t park there. When I asked where I was supposed to park, I was told by a city employee to park in my back yard (on the grass).
August 6th, 2009 at 1:19 pmCalling a parked working auto on grass a nuisance is really pushing it. A nuisance must show that is dangerous or potentially harmful to the community. I suppose with this logic a person standing in their own back yard could be classified a nuisance.
The code 351.07 for parking in your own yard as it may apply -
(30) Stand or park a vehicle in the area between the pavement edge and property line on any uncurbed street or highway inside a business or resident district if such area is maintained as lawn to the pavement edge or lies adjacent to property in use for business or off-street parking;
(33) Stand or park a vehicle upon any unpaved portion of a front lot or side lot in any residence district, or upon any unpaved portion of a vacant lot in any residence district, except as otherwise permitted under the local Zoning Ordinance, Part Eleven of the Toledo Municipal Code.
This does not say anything about parking in your own back yard.
August 6th, 2009 at 9:03 pm