California Vehicle code

Typically, many private streets are not up to code on width. This is one reason why many municipalities won't accept responsibility of the private streets.

Which specific aspect of the code are you concerned about?

In our Association, we contacted the local police and simply filled out a form letter to authorize the police to enter the streets to enforce the codes. Perhaps this can be done within your Association.

Counties typically have looser rules when it comes to roads versus City. Which is the problem we ran into. Originally we were in the county when the development formed. Years later the city surrounded us. We incorporated into the city but our streets were NOT up to city codes. The width was too narrow and it was impossible to expand.

What we ended up doing is turn our streets "PUBLIC". Which meant many things both good/bad. We lost our homemade street signs and had to have the city ones installed. We had stop/yield signs installed as well. Had to lower some owner's fences and cut some trees/bushes blocking the view of the stop/yield signs. Minor modifications.

Our fire hydrants were a huge issue. Our streets were too narrow to support BOTH sides of the road parking. Plus our HOA forbids signs other than "For Sale/Rent". The city would had to put up "No parking" signs every few feet. Instead we went to the city to make an ordinance to PAINT our curbs instead. Making the Red side the no parking which coincided with the side the Fire hydrants were on.

It's important to contact your local CODES department you will be dealing with. We had talked to them about the process or code restrictions. I also took a tour with our local representative and fire marshal.(In the back of a police car LOL). They were happy we made the changes and helped us through the process.

I will say that we ended up with a sink hole. Luckily, we were able to call the city out to come fix it. Which otherwise we would have had to put the money up. So there was that benefit. However, giving up the "privacy" road does make some people uncomfortable. Once your roads go "public" you can't really enforce the HOA rules as much. Plus you have to CHANGE your documents to reflect what kind of roads you have instead of private. Another unforeseen expense you need to factor in as it's a contract that goes with the deed.

Thanks for all the input. I did search CVC 21107.7, as it states we must adopt in our CCRS, if we want it enforced in our development. Long process that will be expensive. A road survey would need to take place and that would cause the stop signs that the association put up to be taken down. Even we if adopted this statute, seems as though very litttle would be enforced anyway.

What you need to do is compare costs of getting the County to take over the streets vs. future costs of the HOA maintaining or replacing (including potential liability). Streets are not cheap to maintain and repair ...

In order for us to be incorporated into our "city" we are a unincorporated part of the city, we ended 100 percent vote in favor and it was abour two inches if paperwork. I agree with your statements.

Janet

Yes ... but some cities and counties are now finding that was not such a smart idea after all.

Can you name a city or county that has changed their position? I know the City of Los Angeles hasn't and won't and they are as progressive ??? as they get.