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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRMC 4-4-085__PARKING OF VEHICLES ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY_COMPLETE4-4-085 PARKING OF VEHICLES ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY: A. PURPOSE: The primary purpose of yards on residential property is to provide access to light and air and to provide circulation, recreation, and landscaping around the primary dwelling building. The presence of such yards on residential property is beneficial to the general health, safety, and welfare of the community. The purpose of this Section is to restrict the type and number of vehicles that may be parked on residential property by declaring the parking of vehicles in violation of this Section to be a public nuisance and such violations, if unabated, present a risk to public health, safety and welfare. This Section does not address the development standards for off-street parking facilities, which can be found in RMC 4-4-080. B. APPLICABILITY: This Section applies to the parking or storage of vehicles on any residentially zoned (RC, R-1, R-4, R-6, R-8, R- 10, R-14, and RMF) lot upon which one or more dwelling units exist. C. DEFINITIONS: For the purpose of this Section, the following terms shall be defined as follows: 1. Commercial Vehicle: Any motor vehicle that does not meet the definition of “recreational vehicle,” as defined herein, and (a) exceeds nine feet (9') in height measured from the ground to the highest part of the vehicle or frame-mounted cargo attachment, (b) has a cargo area, truck bed, or frame that extends more than nine feet (9') behind the vehicle’s passenger cab or seating area, (c) has a curb weight of more than ten thousand (10,000) pounds, or (d) can accommodate eight (8) or more persons not including the driver. This definition is intended to include vehicles that are generally not for personal use and are not in keeping with the character of residential areas, which includes but is not limited to, all box trucks, cargo trucks/vans, chassis cabs, cutaway trucks/vans, utility trucks, flat-bed trucks, high-cube (a.k.a. hicube) trucks, tow trucks, delivery trucks, and landscaping trucks. For the purpose of applying/enforcing this definition, the City may rely upon actual measurements, manufacturer published specifications, and/or observations and perceptions that make it apparent the maximum specifications are exceeded. 2. Curb Weight: The weight of a motor vehicle without occupants or cargo as determined by the vehicle manufacturer (also called “gross vehicle weight” or “empty scale weight”) or as reported by the Washington State Department of Licensing. 3. Licensed Driver: A person who has obtained a valid driver’s license in accordance with Chapter 46.20 RCW. 4. Recreational Vehicle: A vehicle, with or without motive power, capable of human habitation or camping purposes and/or used for sporting, recreation, or social activities including but not limited to trailers, motor coaches, motor homes, fifth-wheels, campers, camper shells, camper trailers, snowmobiles and snowmobile trailers, boats and boat trailers, all-terrain vehicles and all-terrain vehicle trailers, and utility trailers. 5. Trailer: Any vehicle without motive power designed to be drawn by another vehicle and attached to the towing vehicle by means of a hitch or other connector, and ordinarily used for transporting items upon public streets and highways. D. GENERAL: 1. Obstruction of Right-of-Way: It shall be a violation of this Section for a vehicle to be parked in such a manner that it intrudes into the public right-of-way. 2. Disabled or Unlicensed Vehicles and Boats: It is unlawful for any person to keep, store or park, or to permit any other person to keep, store or park, any disabled vehicle or boat, or unlicensed vehicle or boat, on any residentially zoned property within the City unless that vehicle or boat is stored and parked outside public view within a fully enclosed building at all times. Vehicles and boats which are kept on site and outside of an enclosed building shall be operational and currently registered. 3. Impermissible Parking Locations: Except for recreational vehicles and commercial vehicles being used for development activity pursuant to a valid City-issued permit, all motor vehicles shall be parked on a lawfully established driveway or an approved impervious surface. All new driveways shall conform to the parking location requirements specified in RMC 4-4-080F.7, Residential Parking Location Requirements. A separate violation of this Section shall be deemed to have occurred when, after issuance of a citation, twenty four (24) or more consecutive hours passes and the offending vehicle remains in an impermissible location, regardless of whether or not the vehicle has been relocated from the original location. For the purpose of this Section, driveways consisting of compacted dirt and/or gravel established prior to the effective date of this Section shall be considered a permissible parking location. 4. Maximum Number of Vehicles per Lot: A maximum of four (4) vehicles, not including motorcycles or mopeds, may be parked on a lot unless vehicles in excess of the allowed number are kept within an enclosed building. Additional vehicles may be allowed if: a. More than four (4) licensed drivers reside at the same address, an additional motor vehicle for each licensed driver over four (4) may be parked at that particular address, provided that each licensed driver and said vehicle are registered to that same address; or b. An additional vehicles permit is obtained (see RMC 4-9-105). c. RMC 4-4-080, Parking, Loading and Driveway Regulations, allows more off-street parking stalls for the subject property based on the presence of lawfully established structures and uses.The lot contains more than one (1) legally established dwelling unit. In such cases, the maximum number of vehicles allowed is calculated based on the number and type of dwelling units, as provided in RMC 4- 4-080. E. COMMERCIAL VEHICLES: No more than one commercial vehicle shall park or otherwise be stored on any lot in any residential zone except as allowed through an additional vehicles permit; provided, that no semi-trucks, semi-cabs, or tractor trailers shall be permitted. The following vehicles shall be exempt from this subsection: 1. A vehicle that is being actively loaded or unloaded; or 2. A vehicle that is being used for the exclusive purpose of providing active and permitted construction or other hired services with the permission of the owner of the property at that location including, but not limited to, construction, carpentry, plumbing, landscaping, and moving services. F. RECREATIONAL VEHICLES: Except for loading and unloading activities completed within three (3) days within a two (2) week period, parking or storage of recreational vehicles is not permitted unless there is compliance with the following: 1. Permitted Parking Locations: The following locations are listed in order of preference. If a specified location is not available for parking a recreational vehicle due to physical constraints, conflicts with other provisions of Renton Municipal Code, or based on the judgment of the Administrator, then the subsequent location shall be an eligible location for compliance with this subsection. a. Within a vented garage, or a carport; b. In a side or rear yard, and parked at least five feet (5') from property lines for recreational vehicles taller than eight feet (8'), whether on or off a trailer. If parked broadside to a street on the side or rear of a lot, the recreational vehicle must be sight-screened from that street; c. Within a front yard on a driveway parked at least five feet (5') from the side property line and perpendicular to the street; d. In other locations determined by the Administrator to be less obtrusive than the above locations. Screening may be required to meet this standard; and e. If none of the above locations are feasible, the recreational/utility vehicle must be stored off site. 2. Modifications: The Administrator shall have the authority to modify the standards of this Section, subject to the provisions of RMC 4-9-250D, Modification Procedures. 3. Effective Date: Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, recreational vehicles shall not be regulated by this subsection F, Recreational Vehicles, for one year from the effective date of the first ordinance codified in this Section. G. VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES: Violations of this Section shall be enforced pursuant to chapter 1-10 RMC.