(A) Declaration of nuisance. The outside parking and storage on residentially-zoned property of large numbers of vehicles, recreational vehicles, off-highway recreational vehicles, watercraft and vehicles, materials, supplies, or equipment not customarily used for residential purposes in violation of the requirements set forth below are declared to be public nuisances because they:
(1) Obstruct views on streets and private property;
(2) Create cluttered and otherwise unsightly areas;
(3) Prevent the full use of residential streets for residential parking;
(4) Introduces commercial advertising signs into areas where commercial advertising signs are otherwise prohibited;
(5) Decrease adjoining landowners’ and occupants’ enjoyment of their property and neighborhood; and
(6) Otherwise adversely affect property values and neighborhood patterns.
(B) Unlawful parking and storage.
(1) A person must not place, store, or allow the placement or storage of non-permanent structures outside for longer than 24 hours in the front-yard area of residential property, except that vehicles, ice fish houses, or other recreational habitable vehicles are allowed provided they are placed on a parking area that is fully compliant with the city's Zoning Ordinances, Nuisance Ordinances, and all other provisions of the city's Municipal Code. Vehicles, ice fish houses, and other recreational habitable vehicles shall be stored, parked, or placed on a paved or gravel driveway. For the purposes of this section only, all properties, including riparian properties, the front yard shall be defined as that section of the yard which abuts the city street and continues to the front face of the primary structure.
(2) A person must not place, store, or allow the placement or storage of pipe, lumber, forms, steel, machinery, or similar materials, including all materials used in connection with a business, outside on residential property, unless shielded from public view by an opaque cover or fence.
(3) A person must not cause, undertake, permit, or allow the placement or existence of a dumpster outside on residential property unless it complies with the following requirements:
(a) A dumpster must be placed only on a paved or graveled parking or driveway area as far away from the public street as reasonably possible;
(b) A dumpster may not be on the paved portion of a public street;
(c) A dumpster may be used only in connection with construction activity that has been properly permitted by the city, in which case it may remain no longer than 180 days in any 12-month period, or the clean-up of property, in which case it may remain no longer than 30 days in any 12-month period;
(d) There can be no more than one dumpster per parcel; and
(e) A dumpster must be maintained in a reasonably sound condition, with no holes and little rust or peeling paint.
(4) A person must not cause, undertake, permit, or allow the outside parking and storage of vehicles on residential property unless it complies with the following requirements:
(a) No more than one recreational habitable vehicle (i.e. motorhome, camper, etc.) may be parked outside on 1 lot. Additional recreational vehicles may be temporarily parked for up to 6 months while marked for sale;
(b) Recreational vehicles, watercraft and/or recreational off-highway vehicles parked outside must be stored in an orderly manner to not receive complaint or detract from neighboring property values;
(c) Recreational vehicles, watercraft and/or recreational off-highway vehicles parked outside are considered accessory uses;
(d) Storage includes but is not limited to the outside storage of: recreational vehicles, watercraft, recreational off-highway vehicles, playhouses, portable storage sheds, playground equipment, cars. Outside storage is limited to the following max size depending on the formula below:
Lot Size (square footage) minus Principal Building and All Accessory Buildings, Decks, Patio (square footage) multiplied by 8% equals square footage allowed for storage. Minimum of 300 square feet and a maximum of 900 square feet allowed on a premises.
Example:
7,500 square foot property - (Principal Building 768 square feet + 1st floor addition (96 square feet) + Wood Deck (196 square feet) + Garage (720 square feet) = 5,720 square feet x 8%= 458 square feet for storage.
458 square feet is estimated to allow for: two cars stored outside (90 square feet each = 180 square feet) and a 35 foot camper (280 square feet).
(e) Vehicles that are parked or stored outside in the front-yard area must be on a paved or graveled parking or driveway area;
(f) Vehicles, watercraft, and other articles stored outside on residential property must be owned by a person who resides on that property. Students who are away at school for periods of time but still claim the property as their legal residence will be considered residents on the property; and
(g) Vehicles, watercraft and other recreational vehicles or recreational off-highway vehicles parked or stored outside on residential property must be licensed and in operable condition.
(Ord. 2014-14, passed 12-1-2014; Am. Ord. 2020-02, passed 4-6-2020)
Penalty, see § 10.99