Cars with advertisements in the Community

This would be addressed in your CC&R's.

Ours says that no vehicle may be parked in sight that has advertising on it. It can be parked in the garage or behind a fence in the side yard as long as it's not visible to a neighboring property.

Yours may not have that restriction. I would check the documents and also ask the BOD to make sure you haven't missed it. If they say you cannot have a vehicle with advertising parked in sight of neighbors, then ask for them to site the article and paragraph number for your reference.

The documents govern. The BOD cannot act in contradiction to the documents.

William

Most association documents prohibit commercial vehicles from parking on the ommon areas or that are visible. You need to check the specific wording of your documents. If you have a garage and park it inside, there probably will be no problem, unless you leave it in the driveway or on the street for any period of time.

Usually the only exceptions are for police and emergency vehicles, and a vehicle used as an advertising venue wouldn't qualify for that.

If your vehicle has to be parked outside, I would consider getting one of those magnetic signs that you could remove each evening.

In any event, I wouldn't spend the money on getting the car wrapped until you had a letter from the board stating it was OK and under what conditions.

Joe

a commercial vehicle is one licensed as such by the state.

I asked our attorney what defines a commercial vehicle and couldn't get a response. Is it the vehicle with logos, the pick-up truck with ladder racks and ladders used for construction, the weight restriction by the state, or how about the small silver sandwich box truck we used to have? Logically, a commercial vehicle seems to be anything used for business and not personal use. It's just one of those vague things that needs to be described more I guess. Fortunately, we have not been challenged on it...yet.

It appears that you have gotten some very good advice. I would of course check with the current BOD and get the approval in writing before getting the vehicle “wrapped” I don’t see any problem with the “wrap” if it’s not seen from any of the neighboring houses. If it is in the garage then I think it would be fine.
I know many of the CC&R, by-laws have some rules that state no vehicle can be parked in the driveway, or sit for x number of hours or over night. You would have to read your governing documents, CC&Rs or by-laws (very carefully) pertaining to your community.
You may want to consider getting (what someone else had written as a response) a removable magnetic business sign. If your BOD can show you the rule that states you can not have the “wrap” under any circumstance what so even, then I would consider the sign. I know it may not sound fair. But you must understand that the rules if stated applies to everyone as a whole not just one person in particular. They don’t want to discriminate against any one person! Unfortunately to may not but someone else may be offended by the content of your business. I know there are probably hundreds of companies that wouldn't offend many but then again what if………

I guess I would ask first, and then get it in writing. After you ensure that you won’t be in violation. I would then proceed. I wouldn’t waste my time or my money, if you are only going to receive violation notices, then fines until corrected, which will potentially cost you more money and time. Nothing good can come on this if you proceed without caution.

Chuck W.