Chestnut Lake Neighborhood Assoc.

Parking Ordinances

No Parking on Lawns

Charlotte City Council adopted a new ordinance prohibiting vehicle parking on front lawns. The following questions and answers help explain the ordinance and how it will be enforced.

What does the ordinance prohibit?
This ordinance bans parking in front yards and in side yards of corner lots, except on improved driveways or parking pads.

Where does the ordinance apply?
The ordinance applies to single family detached, duplex, triplex and quadraplex dwelling units.

What is the purpose of the ordinance?
The ordinance supports the City's model vision of a clean and nuisance free environment for all Charlotte neighborhoods.

Are there exceptions to the ordinance?
Exceptions to the ordinance will apply when no parking is allowed on adjacent streets and the principal dwelling is less than 20 feet from the abutting street or the lot width is less than 25 feet. Additionally, special family event or social gatherings occurring no more than once a week will be exempted from the ordinance.

What is the background of the ordinance?
Residents shared concerns about the long-term impact of cars parked on front lawns in their communities during the November 2001 Neighborhood Summit and the 2002 Neighborhood Symposium. These concerns were included in the City's vision for the development of model neighborhood standards. The desire for an ordinance was included as an indicator of model neighborhood status within the Model Neighborhood Standards at a Glance publication adopted by City Council in December 2002.

What is the effective date of the ordinance?
The ordinance becomes effective April 1, 2004.

What is the penalty for violating the ordinance?
The ordinance carries a $25 fine with possible vehicle towing. Fines will be imposed beginning May 1, 2004. Warning tickets will be issued during the month of April.

Who do I call to report a violation?
Violations should be reported to the City/County Customer Service Center at 704-336-7600. DO NOT report violations to 911.

What is the expected response time once violation is reported?
The response time is up to three (3) working days.

No Parking Commercial Vehicles

Charlotte City Council adopted a new ordinance prohibiting parking of commercial vehicles in residential neighborhoods. The following questions and answers help explain the ordinance and how it will be enforced.

What does the ordinance prohibit?
Overnight parking of large commercial vehicles in residential neighborhoods. It also restricts overnight parking of light and medium commercial vehicles to no more than one per dwelling. Medium commercial vehicles must be parked on a clearly delineated driveway and cannot be parked in the public street.

Large commercial vehicles are defined as those weighing more than 13,000 pounds or those less than 13,000 pounds but with a height of more than 9.5 feet including installed accessories and/or a cargo area/work platform more than 14 feet in length.

Light commercial vehicles are defined as those weighing less than 13,000 pounds and a cargo area/work platform that is less than the height of the vehicle cab and no more than 9 feet in length.

Medium commercial vehicles are defined as those weighing less than 13,000 pounds with a cargo area/work platform that is less than 9.5 feet in height and no more than 14 feet in length.

Where does the ordinance apply?
The ordinance applies to single family detached, duplex, triplex and quadraplex dwelling units that are located in residentially zoned districts.

Are there exceptions to the ordinance?
Overnight parking of light and medium commercial vehicles is permitted, without screening, in true mixed-use developments where residential and non-residential uses occur vertically in the same building.

What is the purpose of the ordinance?
The ordinance supports the City's model vision of a clean and nuisance-free environment for all Charlotte neighborhoods. The ordinance also comes in response to citizen complaints.

What is the effective date of the ordinance?
The ordinance becomes effective April 20, 2004.

What is the penalty for violating the ordinance?
Warning tickets will be issued upon the first violation. The second violation carries a $50 fine. The third violation carries a fine of up to $200, with fines of up to $500 for the fourth violation. Fines will be imposed beginning April 20.

Who do I call to report a violation?
Violations should be reported to the Mecklenburg County Zoning Administrator at 704-336-3569. DO NOT report violations to 911.