Fire Lane streets and service providers

Started by CandiceS • 11 replies • 485 views

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CandiceS (California)
Posts: 15

Posted:

Live in a 33 single family house gated community. Our 2 streets are fire lanes and a sign is posted at the entry gate - no parking - all lanes are fire lanes.
CC&R's state no parking at anytime.
But how do you handle service providers like telephone, internet, gardeners, plumbers, window washers, gas and electric etc..?
What about the homeowner who remodels a bathroom, a kitchen or a backyard? All of those craftsmen need to be parked where they are doing the work.
We are up against the CC&R's and the city code for fire lanes yet we need these services.
Your thoughts and comments are greatly appreciated.

JohnT38 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,631

Posted:

Not sure I understand. Don't you have driveways? Also, have you asked the city for advice on how to handle this?

CandiceS (California)
Posts: 15

Posted:

Only 6 houses of 33 have a true driveway. Meaning a vehicle can park in their driveway and not hangover to a sidewalk or street.
No visitor parking for the rest. All have to park outside the gate on nearest street or be towed away. And that sign (towing) is posted also.

Not sure how the city can helps us if it is clearly a city ordinance of a fire lane.

CandiceS (California)
Posts: 15

Posted:

CandiceS (California)
Posts: 15

Posted:

CandiceS (California)
Posts: 15

Posted:

Egads, not sure why my reply posted 3 times. Sorry folks!

SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964

Posted:

Well, where do you park your own car(s)? If you have a space where they go, that's probably where your vendors need to park. I'd hate to suggest the grass, but if that's closest, that may be what's necessary and you'll have to address any damage.

This sounds like the developer wasn't thinking very much when this community was built - or the original owners were good because they didn't have a car at all or only one. Long term, your board may want to see if the streets can be widened to accommodate street parking.

If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius

LetA (Nevada)
Posts: 2,679

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By JohnT38 on 02/03/2022 4:44 PM
Not sure I understand. Don't you have driveways? Also, have you asked the city for advice on how to handle this?

Not all homes out west here have driveways let alone full driveways. Builders for the last 25 years have petitioned planning commissions to increase the house per acreage from 4 to 6 to 8, That leaves
little room for on-street parking. Some SFH's have zero frontage , there front stoop begins at the curb.

Check with your local Fire Dept Captain, local zoning inspector, local law clerk for parking regulations.
Are your streets public or private? Logically most ordinances allow for no parking within 10' of a fire hydrant, depends on how narrow your street is as to why both sides of the street are a red zone.
I am going to guess both sided of the street have no or half driveways.

Typically service providers get kind of a free pass because they are in and out and are not parking for an extended period of time.

BenA2 (Texas)
Posts: 1,273

Posted:

In some areas you can hold owners accountable for their guests' actions, including contractors. However, this is difficult if the contractors are not on the owner's property. For example, we have a restriction stating that contractors will obey the speed limit. The owners have zero control over the driving or parking habits of contractors off of their own property and no court would uphold this if we tried to hold the owners accountable.

I would not try to enforce parking violations on non-owners. My suggestion is report the violation to the police. If it is an official fire lane, they should be able to issue tickets, even on private property.

CandiceS (California)
Posts: 15

Posted:

Thank you for your suggestion in contacting our local authorities. Hopefully they will have a recommendation.
Yes, it was the developer in that he didn't make the streets wide enough - I believe we are short by 7 inches to not be deemed a fire lane. Grr!
Most lots don't even have a sidewalk in order to get the square footage of a home on the lot.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

Do the homes have garages?

Otherwise, I think the various service provides need to do exactly what they do for our urban high rise.. They offload their equipment, tools, etc at the red curb on the street outside our lobby entrance and bring the stuff up to the units. They then move their vehicle to the public lot a 1/2 black away or they might find street metered parking a little closer.

None are allowed to "stage" their items on the sidewalk or in the lobbies.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

Personally, I wouldn't worry about the workers. They are not parking there overnight.

Dumpsters should be kept in the driveway.

Tow vehicles parked after x p.m. and don't worry about the smaller items.

The other option is to make an arrangement with the local police and pay for an off duty police officer to run through and issue tickets as needed (perhaps warnings initially).

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