commercial vehicle parking

PaulO3 (Florida)
Posts: 5

Posted:

We have a homeowner who has no regard for parking his commercial work vehicle on premise. What are your thoughts on sending a letter to the homeowner and company that owns the commercial vehicle explaining in our bylaws no overnight commercial vehicle extended parking allowed on premises?

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

If it is a rule then why not? Also do you have a fining schedule or ability to fine for not doing so? It is one thing to be against the rules and having consequences.

Former HOA President

JackieB4 (California)
Posts: 398

Posted:

The easy answer is FOLLOW YOUR DOCUMENTS...but(OMG), take a deep look. Many companies now offer a company vehicle as a perk for their valued employee. If this vehicle is your typical car, truck, van with signage, that arrives to fix your toliet or paint a few rooms, it seems like overkill. However, the BOD should update their documents to simply clarify the distinction between parking average size (lower tonage) commercial vehicles vs TOW TRUCK, SEMI. etc. I wonder if this could be clarified in our HOA Rules/Regs?

MichaelT21 (Arkansas)
Posts: 200

Posted:

I would look to your documents to see the definition of a commercial vehicle and then determine if the vehicle you are concerned about indeed violates those policies. If so, the HOA should enforce the rules. If it doesn't, well, no issue then from the HOA standpoint.

DouglasK1 (Florida)
Posts: 2,046

Posted:

The homeowner is a member of the association and subject to the restrictions. The company that owns the truck is not. I would limit any attempt at enforcement to the homeowner.

Escaped former treasurer and director of a self managed association.

ND (PA)
Posts: 792

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By PaulO3 on 01/25/2023 6:04 AM
We have a homeowner who has no regard for parking his commercial work vehicle on premise. What are your thoughts on sending a letter to the homeowner and company that owns the commercial vehicle explaining in our bylaws no overnight commercial vehicle extended parking allowed on premises?

EGADS!! How does one sleep at night, knowing there is a commercial vehicle parked on premise at the same time one is sleeping but probably gone when one awakens?!?!

I kid sort of, but not really. I have more of a live and let live response to "commercial vehicles" that are normally and mostly just your average truck/van with some signage. Large vehicles with trailers though I have a different response.

All that said, I agree with most others ... see what your docs say about commercial vehicles, how they are defined, and what sort of restrictions may be placed upon them. If the homeowner is in violation of docs, then they should be made aware of that violation via the process that has been established to try and rectify violations.

MaxB4
Posts: 3,513

Posted:

If they pay their dues that is good enough for me.

SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964

Posted:

If it's prohibited in your documents, your board needs to do its job and send the violation notice. Send it to the HOMEOWNER, not the company- it has no control where the vehicle is parked.

Now, having said that, it's been noted many people are given work vehicles to take home, so it may be your documents are in need of updating. In my community, our primary concerns have been the large trailer trucks that wrecked the pavement on streets and/or cause major blind spots for other drivers.
It's another reason the association began hiring off duty police officers as our security officers. They could ticket these people and have the cab towed - and I've heard that's very expensive because you need a special truck. We say nyet to RVs for the same reason.

If this is a regular car, pickup, SUV, etc, with the company emblem, I might send the letter but also start polling the community to see if it's time for an update of the documents. In the meantime, could the homeowner put the truck or whatever in the garage - that may be the easiest way to address this until you get a policy change. If it's causing a blind spot or street damage, or has expired plates, you can address it that way.

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

ElleN (Idaho)
Posts: 4,420

Posted:

This is an instance where I feel it's likely as a director that I would vote not to enforce the covenant. Let a neighbor demand that the board enforce the covenant, and explain why it's critical the covenant be enforced. Then I will give it more thought, without guaranteeing I will change my mind.

These times are so difficult economically for many. A stupid little HOA enforcing a covenant that may be outdated and goes after a person's livelihood is the last thing many folks need.

MaxB4
Posts: 3,513

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MichaelT21 on 01/25/2023 8:20 AM
I would look to your documents to see the definition of a commercial vehicle

SERIOUSLY, and you have been on this site for how long?

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

My last HOA banned commercial vehicles from being parked overnight in ones driveway. The homes had 2 to 3 car garages and driveways at least two cars wide and two cars deep:

Our docs did not define commercial and we had several go arounds about this. One thing we agreed on was any signage on the vehicle made it a commercial vehicle. In one case, two identical mini vans. One had a sign on the doors saying airport service. The sign made it commercial.

One person tried to bust our balls over a Highway Patrol car saying signage made it commercial. We ruled signage did not apply to public safety vehicles. Another was a Ford Explorer with the name of a real estate company on the rear window. We ruled it commercial. We had a neighbor object to the size of a truck (dual rear wheels) but we ruled it not commercial. Another issue was a Ford F-150 with no signage but a rack of ladders on it. We ruled it commercial.

One could get a blank sign to cover the commercial signage as did the Airport mini van owner.

Some say go by Dept. of Motor Vehicle registration but in SC one could get commercial plates that allowed parking in loading zones for 30 minutes. Just because the vehicle had commercial plates did not make it a commercial vehicle.

Defining commercial vehicles is not black and white.

LetA (Nevada)
Posts: 2,679

Posted:

Just like the people that use the term assault rifle, what is a commercial vehicle? How is commercial vehicle defined in your governing documents?
Or are you referring to a Class D motor vehicle less that 26,600 pounds that has some "commercial" advertising on it?

LetA (Nevada)
Posts: 2,679

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By ND on 01/25/2023 9:00 AM

Posted By PaulO3 on 01/25/2023 6:04 AM
We have a homeowner who has no regard for parking his commercial work vehicle on premise. What are your thoughts on sending a letter to the homeowner and company that owns the commercial vehicle explaining in our bylaws no overnight commercial vehicle extended parking allowed on premises?

EGADS!! How does one sleep at night, knowing there is a commercial vehicle parked on premise at the same time one is sleeping but probably gone when one awakens?!?!

I kid sort of, but not really. I have more of a live and let live response to "commercial vehicles" that are normally and mostly just your average truck/van with some signage. Large vehicles with trailers though I have a different response.

All that said, I agree with most others ... see what your docs say about commercial vehicles, how they are defined, and what sort of restrictions may be placed upon them. If the homeowner is in violation of docs, then they should be made aware of that violation via the process that has been established to try and rectify violations.

WELL for one residential streets are not designed to park a True Class A commercial vehicle. Try coming home to park in your garage and the stronzo next-door to you has a California cab with a 28' trailer partially blocking
your driveway apron. A Stepper Van with a ladder rack or Ford F-450 Duallie with a cherry picker isn't that much of a twist unless again the Strono driver blocks your driveway.

ND (PA)
Posts: 792

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By LetA on 01/25/2023 3:00 PM

Posted By ND on 01/25/2023 9:00 AM

Posted By PaulO3 on 01/25/2023 6:04 AM
We have a homeowner who has no regard for parking his commercial work vehicle on premise. What are your thoughts on sending a letter to the homeowner and company that owns the commercial vehicle explaining in our bylaws no overnight commercial vehicle extended parking allowed on premises?

EGADS!! How does one sleep at night, knowing there is a commercial vehicle parked on premise at the same time one is sleeping but probably gone when one awakens?!?!

I kid sort of, but not really. I have more of a live and let live response to "commercial vehicles" that are normally and mostly just your average truck/van with some signage. Large vehicles with trailers though I have a different response.

All that said, I agree with most others ... see what your docs say about commercial vehicles, how they are defined, and what sort of restrictions may be placed upon them. If the homeowner is in violation of docs, then they should be made aware of that violation via the process that has been established to try and rectify violations.

WELL for one residential streets are not designed to park a True Class A commercial vehicle. Try coming home to park in your garage and the stronzo next-door to you has a California cab with a 28' trailer partially blocking
your driveway apron. A Stepper Van with a ladder rack or Ford F-450 Duallie with a cherry picker isn't that much of a twist unless again the Strono driver blocks your driveway.

"Stronzo" ... that's great. I had to look that one up as I've never heard the term before. Thanks, I'll be using that more myself.
But re-read my post. I think you'll see that we agree.

MaxB4
Posts: 3,513

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By LetA on 01/25/2023 3:00 PM

Posted By ND on 01/25/2023 9:00 AM

Posted By PaulO3 on 01/25/2023 6:04 AM
We have a homeowner who has no regard for parking his commercial work vehicle on premise. What are your thoughts on sending a letter to the homeowner and company that owns the commercial vehicle explaining in our bylaws no overnight commercial vehicle extended parking allowed on premises?

EGADS!! How does one sleep at night, knowing there is a commercial vehicle parked on premise at the same time one is sleeping but probably gone when one awakens?!?!

I kid sort of, but not really. I have more of a live and let live response to "commercial vehicles" that are normally and mostly just your average truck/van with some signage. Large vehicles with trailers though I have a different response.

All that said, I agree with most others ... see what your docs say about commercial vehicles, how they are defined, and what sort of restrictions may be placed upon them. If the homeowner is in violation of docs, then they should be made aware of that violation via the process that has been established to try and rectify violations.

WELL for one residential streets are not designed to park a True Class A commercial vehicle. Try coming home to park in your garage and the stronzo next-door to you has a California cab with a 28' trailer partially blocking
your driveway apron. A Stepper Van with a ladder rack or Ford F-450 Duallie with a cherry picker isn't that much of a twist unless again the Strono driver blocks your driveway.

AGAIN, are their dues current?

MaxB4
Posts: 3,513

Posted:

Besides the rules that the government has, all you people HAVE to have additional rules to either live with or impose upon others.