Simi Valley Municipal Code Art. 2 Parking on Unpaved Surfaces or Storage of Inoperative Vehicles in Yard Areas

For purposes of this article, the following terms are defined as follows:

(a) "Camper" shall have the same meaning as provided for in Section 243 of the Vehicle Code.

(b) "Inoperative" shall include any automobile, trailer, or other vehicle which is on blocks, jacks, or other means of elevation, or under which there is an accumulation of weed growth, or on or under which there is an accumulation of trash or debris or which is in such a state of disuse or disrepair that it cannot normally operate upon public or private streets or roadways as it was designed to operate. An inoperable vehicle may be established by the absence of the central components, obvious disrepair, and or deteriorated condition. The fact that any automobile, or trailer shall be registered, shall not be determinative of whether it is inoperative, but the absence of a current registration shall be evidence that it is inoperative.

(c) "Park or parking" shall have the same meaning as provided for in Section 463 of the Vehicle Code and shall include "store" or "storage."

(d) "Vehicle" shall have the same meaning as provided for in Section 670 of the Vehicle Code.

(e) "Vessel" shall have the same meaning as provided for in Section 9840 of the Vehicle Code.

(f) The terms "yard" (including corner yard, front yard, rear yard, and side yard), "lot", and "setback" (including front, interior, rear and side setbacks) shall have their respective meanings as set forth in Article 2 of Chapter 1 of Title 9 of the Simi Valley Municipal Code (the Zoning Ordinance).

(§ 1, Ord. 934, eff. October 29, 1998)

(a) No registered owner, legal owner, driver, rentee, and/or lessee of any vehicle shall park, or allow the vehicle to be parked on any unpaved surface within the yard or setback areas of any residential, commercial or vacant lot which is visible from a public alley, street or adjoining property.

(b) No registered owner, legal owner, driver, rentee, and/or lessee of an inoperative vehicle shall park, or allow the vehicle to be parked in any required yard or setback on any residential, commercial or vacant lot that is visible from a public street, alley, or adjoining property. This Section shall not apply to any commercial business lawfully engaging in the business of repairing or servicing vehicles.

(c) Any regularly employed and salaried code enforcement officer, police officer, or person authorized to enforce parking laws and regulations, may issue a citation for violation of subsections (a) and (b) of this section in accordance with Vehicle Code Section 40202. Penalties for violation of those subsections shall be established by resolution by the City Council pursuant to the authority of Vehicle Code Section 40203.5. The provisions of Vehicle Code Section 40200 are applicable to this article.

(d) No person owning, leasing, occupying, managing or having charge of any premises shall park or store any vessel, camper, or camper shell, on any unpaved surface or store any vehicle parts or components within any required yard or setback area on any residential, commercial or vacant lot that is visible from a public alley, street or adjoining property.

(§ 1, Ord. 934, eff. October 29, 1998)

This article is not the exclusive means of regulating parking of inoperative vehicles or vehicles parked on unpaved surfaces within the City. It shall supplement and be in addition to other regulatory codes, statutes and ordinances heretofore or hereafter enacted by the City, the State or any other entity or agency having jurisdiction.

(§ 1, Ord. 934, eff. October 29, 1998)

The City Council finds and declares that the parking and storage of vehicles in violation of this article creates a condition tending to reduce the value of private property, promotes blight and deterioration, is injurious to the quality of life in the community and therefore constitutes a public nuisance. Whenever a vehicle owner or property owner has been cited three (3) times for violating this article on any lot within the City for the same vehicle within a one-year period, it shall be subject to abatement in accordance with the procedures contained in Sections 5-2.01 et seq. of this Code.

(§ 1, Ord. 934, eff. October 29, 1998)

This article shall not apply to:

(a) Construction activities being conducted pursuant to a grading or building permit issued by the City; or

(b) Any activity performed for or on behalf of the City; or

(c) Licensed vehicular repair or sales sites.

(§ 1, Ord. 934, eff. October 29, 1998)