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The City of Sarasota has enacted a new commercial vehicle
ordinance that applies to vehicles parked in residential zones.
The first phase of this ordinance took effect on June 1st,
2003. This page explains in general terms which vehicle
types are affected by which phase of the new ordinance, and
what you may need to do to keep your property in compliance
with this ordinance and avoid Code Compliance fines.
Please call the City of Sarasota Code Compliance Inspector
for your area at 941-954-4125 for more detailed information,
or to ask for a determination of whether your vehicle fall
under the ordinance.
PROHIBITED
COMMERCIAL VEHICLES, COMMERCIAL TRAILERS AND CONSTRUCTION
EQUIPMENT
Effective June 1st, 2003, All vehicles over 7,200 pounds in
vehicle weight are prohibited from parking in residential
zones inside the City of Sarasota. Vehicles that are more
than eight feet in height as measured from the ground to the
highest point of the vehicle are also prohibited. Regardless
of weight, semi-trucks and/or trailers are prohibited, as
are dump trucks, bucket trucks, wreckers, tow trucks and trucks
with stake beds. Construction equipment is also prohibited,
including but not limited to front end loaders, bulldozers,
bobcats or ditch diggers with sole exception of the construction
equipment parked during the tenure of construction. Prohibited
vehicles that are performing deliveries, construction work,
etc., can be parked in residential zones only as long as the
work is actively being performed. Overnight parking of such
vehicles is always prohibited in residential zones.
VISIBLE
COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
Effective January 1st, 2004, certain commercial vehicles parked
in residential zones can be visible from abutting properties
and rights-of-way, as long as they are not prohibited vehicles
(as discussed above) and meet certain conditions. These vehicles
must be parked on a paved, shell-covered or rock-covered area
with perimeters or borders defined by landscaping. The vehicle
cannot exceed 7200 pounds, and cannot be more than 6.5 feet
in height or have racks that exceed 18 inches in height. The
vehicle must be owned by the current resident of the property
or unit at which itis parked and it cannot be parked on or
over a sidewalk. If your vehicle has two or fewer signs of
not more than four square feet per sign, you may cover the
signage with magnetic (or similar) opaque blanks of a similar
color to the vehicle. If the signs are larger, the vehicle
must be buffered (see below. Any vehicle that exceeds any
of these limits cannot be visible from abutting properties
when parked; it must be parked outside a residential zone
or, if it meets certain requirements, itmay be buffered as
discussed below. Only one visible commercial vehicle is allowed
per address.
BUFFERED
COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
Effective January 1st 2004, all commercial vehicles that are
not prohibited (see above), but exceed the limits for a visible
vehicle, must be buffered. An allowed vehicle may be parked
on a side or rear yard that is buffered (screened) from all
abutting properties by a 6.5 foot fence or wall or by an 80%
opaque hedge. Vehicles may also be parked in a completely
enclosed structure like a garage, or in a carport that is
attached to the house (so that one wall of the house functions
as one side of the carport) and where the carport does not
extend beyond the front of the house. The vehicle must be
owned or operated by the resident of the dwelling. The vehicle
cannot be over eight feet in height (including tools and racks)
or over 7,200 pounds in vehicle weight. Signage is allowed
on buffered vehicles. You may only have one buffered vehicle
or one buffered trailer (in addition to one visible commercial
vehicle that meets the limits discussed above) at any address.
BUFFERED
COMMERCIAL TRAILERS
Effective January 1st, 2004, commercial trailers over sixteen
feet in length (from the front of the tongue to the rear-most
part of the trailer), all trailers that have racks attached
to the top, and those that are more than eight feet in height
from the ground to the highest point on the trailer are prohibited
in residential zones. All other commercial trailers must be
buffered from abutting properties. A trailer may be parked
in a side yard or rear yard that is buffered (screened) from
all abutting properties by a 6.5-foot fence or wall, or by
an 80% opaque hedge. Trailers may also be parked in a completely
enclosed structure like a garage. Please note that carports
do not constitute buffering for a trailer. If the trailer
is over 6.5 feet in height from the ground to the highest
point on the trailer, itmust be a completely enclosed trailer
or it must be stored in a completely enclosed structure. Signage
is allowed on trailers as long as the signage is not visible
from any abutting property. You may only have one buffered
trailer or one buffered vehicle (in addition to one visible
commercial vehicle that meets the limits discussed above)
at any address.
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