On Tuesday, the Antioch City Council are set to discuss recreation vehicle storage on residential properties.
Staff has provided three options from allowing recreational vehicle parking, expand its current registration process or take no action and to continue the current process.
The staff report was limited in nature as it did not provide how many fines code enforcement have given, complaints by residents or number of inquires citizens have sought in having a recreational vehicle parked on their property. The staff report did say under its current program, they have 947 registered vehicles that have been grandfathered in since 2008.
Antioch Code Enforcement enforces various provisions of the Antioch Municipal Code as it relates to the storage of automobiles, recreational vehicles, boats, trailers, and other vehicles on private residential property.
The staff report did not include how many citations have been given for people with recreational vehicles on their property.
According to the Antioch Municipal Code 5-1.201.1 prohibits the storage of recreational vehicles in the front yard of a property unless the owner possesses and approved registration from the City of Antioch. From Oct. 23, 2007 until April 2008, owners of recreational vehicles were permitted to register the vehicle with the City of Antioch, thereby allowing their continued storage in the front yard, subject to adopted conditions. This registration applied only to the recreational vehicle storage at that address by that particular owner. A new recreation vehicle could replace the registered recreational vehicle, but the registration could not be transferred to a new property or assigned to a subsequent property owner. It is important to note that the term recreation vehicle refers to motor homes and travel trailers, but also to boats, unmounted camper shells, jet skis, utility/dump trailers, and boat trailers. It does not refer to large commercial vehicles, which are regulated elsewhere. Presently, there are 947 registered recreational vehicles from this program.
The City is requesting direction on the approach to the storage of recreational vehicles and offered the following options for discussion:
- Allow Recreational Vehicles: Under this option, the AMC would be amended to eliminate the restrictions that are specific to the storage of recreational vehicles. Instead, the restrictions that apply to the storage of regular automobiles would apply to recreational vehicles. All recreational vehicles stored in the front yard would have to be registered and operable and could not overhang the sidewalk or create a corner visibility obstruction. For safety reason, the city prohibits the installation of tall fences or structures on the area of corner lots nearest the intersection and recommends similar considerations for large recreational vehicles. These standards would be written and enforced to ensure that any recreational vehicles stored in the front yard does not create a visual obstruction. The owner would not have to register their recreational vehicle.
- Expand Registration Process: Under this option, the AMC would be amended to eliminate the six-month registration window from 2007-2008. Instead, registration would be extended to all current and future recreational vehicles without time or transfer restriction. This option would require a new process, fee and staff resources in the Code Enforcement Division and the Finance Department. The City does not otherwise have an interest in having the information gained through registration and this would require enforcement on unregistered vehicles.
- Continue Current Process: Under this option, the current code language would be un-changed and enforcement would continue. Recreational vehicles would remain prohibited in the front yard, except for the few remaining registered cases that would be allowed.
Staff is requesting direction from the city council regarding the issue. The staff report did not include any proposed fees, fee changes or penalties for unregistered vehicles. If Item 1 or 2 is selected, the Code Enforcement division would suspend, whatever feasible, enforcement of the current statues until a new program is developed.
Antioch City Council Meeting
- 6:00 pm – Special Meeting/Study Session
- 7:00 pm – Regular Meeting
- 200 H Street, Antioch CA 94509
- Full Agenda: Click here
Editors Notes
1. REPORT FROM RECREATIONAL VEHICLE (RV) COMMITTEE (June 19, 2007)
https://www.antiochca.gov/fc/government/agendas/CityCouncil/2007/minutes/061907.pdf
1. BALLOT MEASURE OR COUNCIL ADOPTED ORDINANCE CLARIFYING WHEN THE
STORAGE OF A RECREATIONAL VEHICLE (RV), TRAILER, BOAT OR SIMILAR
VEHICLE IS A PUBLIC NUISANCE #702-02 (Oct. 16, 2007)
https://www.antiochca.gov/fc/government/agendas/CityCouncil/2007/minutes/101607.pdf
5-1.201.1 WHEN STORAGE OF A RECREATIONAL VEHICLE IS A PUBLIC NUISANCE.
It is hereby declared a public nuisance for any person owning, leasing, occupying, or having charge or possession of any premises in the city to park or store any recreational vehicle, including but not limited to, a trailer, boat, fifth-wheel trailer, motorhome, motorized cart, tent trailer, travel trailer, utility trailer, travel coach, bus, unmounted camper shell, or other mobile recreational equipment or watercraft or any empty trailer intended for or capable of carrying any of the above, in any front or side yard in a residential district, including the driveway, subject only to the following exceptions:
(A) Recreational vehicle is parked or stored in a side or rear yard, on an improved surface (concrete, asphalt, pavers or gravel) and behind a legally constructed opaque fence not less than six feet in height; or
(B) For the purpose of loading or unloading not to exceed 24-hours before or after a trip using the recreational vehicle with a trip not referring to daily use of a recreational vehicle but to an extended use requiring additional preparation time; or
(C) Recreational vehicle is the sole means of transportation for occupants of the dwelling; or
(D) Recreational vehicle owners who have their recreational vehicle parked in the front yard, including the driveway, at the time of the effective date of this section and who meet the following requirements:
(1) Each owner may register one recreational vehicle with the city within six months of the effective date of this chapter, including submittal of documentation and payment of any applicable application or processing fees.
(2) The parking of such recreational vehicle shall be on an improved surface of concrete or pavers but not of asphalt or gravel and shall not encroach in the sidewalk or roadway or violate any other requirements of the Municipal Code. The recreational vehicle, if covered, shall be with a tight-fitting, single cover. The recreational vehicle shall not be parked parallel to the front of the house.
(3) The registration shall pertain to the registrant of the recreational vehicle and not the vehicle itself or the real property. If the vehicle is sold, then the registration is not applicable to that vehicle, but the owner may register a replacement vehicle.
(4) The owner of the recreational vehicle must be an Antioch resident, and a resident or owner of the property where the vehicle is stored.
(5) Upon sale of the property, no further recreational vehicle storage shall be allowed in the front yard, including the driveway.
(6) Upon termination of tenancy, no subsequent tenant shall be allowed to store a recreational vehicle in the front yard, including the driveway.
(Ord. 2002-C-S, passed 10-23-07)
4 comments
Just what we need. Storage of more stuff on properties contributing to neighborhoods looking blighted and unattractive. Let’s hope the current restrictions remain in place and enforcement is stepped up. I’m not going to hold my breath.
There are already ordinances on this and just need to he enforced. Never need a meeting just to do your job.
So… ECT… what was the outcome of said discussion??
Perhaps Antioch should focus on all the trash and blight on public property instead of private property on private property. This city has much more serious issues that need to be addressed.
Comments are closed.