Mountain View Municipal Code Art. IX Vehicle Parking and Storage Restrictions in Residential Areas

The city council hereby finds and determines that vehicle parking and storage restrictions are necessary to promote the health, safety, aesthetic appearance and general welfare of the public to stabilize and protect the residential character of the neighborhoods and residential districts, to encourage a suitable and attractive environment for family life, to prevent the impairment of property values and to preserve the aesthetic appeal of the neighborhoods, and to protect the livability, appearance, social and economic stability of the city.

(Ord. No. 4.90, 3/13/90.)

It shall be unlawful for any person owning or occupying any residential premises to cause or permit the parking or storage of any vehicle in violation of any of the provisions of this article. The following provisions shall regulate the parking and/or storage of a mobile home, recreational vehicle, camper, utility trailer, boat trailer, car, truck, trailer or other vehicle (collectively referred to herein as a "vehicle"):

a. Any vehicle parked or stored in areas visible from a public street (defined as including the entire front yard and any part of the side yard that is not screened from view by a six (6) foot high opaque fence) for more than seventy-two (72) hours shall be owned or leased by the occupants.

b. No vehicle parked or stored in residential areas shall be used or occupied for dwelling purposes, except that one (1) vehicle designed for human habitation may be stored or parked on a driveway in conjunction with a residential use for a period not to exceed seventy-two (72) hours for use by guests. Occupants may apply to the chief of police for a permit to extend the seventy-two (72) hour limitation for an additional fixed period, not to exceed thirty (30) days, on a showing of special circumstances pursuant to guidelines adopted by council resolution.

c. No vehicle parked upon any public street shall be occupied or used for dwelling purposes.

d. Any vehicle located in areas visible from a public street shall be parked or stored only upon an asphalt, concrete, masonry or other permanently paved and permitted surface.

e. No vehicle parked in areas visible from a public street shall be stored or parked in such a manner as to encroach in, over, across or upon the public sidewalk.

f. No vehicle over seven (7) feet in height shall be parked or stored diagonally across a driveway in areas visible from a public street.

g. No more than one (1) vehicle per residential unit that exceeds seven (7) feet in height shall be parked or stored in areas visible from a public street.

h. The height of a vehicle parked or stored in areas visible from a public street shall not exceed twelve (12) feet to the highest point of the main structure of the vehicle.

i. In R1 and R2 districts, lots with no garage or a one (1) car garage are permitted to utilize up to a twenty (20) foot wide portion of the area visible from a public street for vehicle parking; properties with a two (2) car or three (3) car garage are permitted to utilize an area of up to thirty (30) feet in width of the area visible from a public street for vehicle parking.

(Ord. No. 4.90, 3/13/90; Ord. No. 5.99, 4/13/99.)