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city property laws

You can do this research via google. I do it all the time for my city ordinances. Just type your city name, and the item you're curious about. I do it for building code stuff typically, but it seems to work for Iowa Falls as well...

69.15 PERMISSION REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN OBSTRUCTIONS BETWEEN ROADWAYAND SIDEWALK AREA. No person shall stop, stand or park implements, equipment, machinery,tools, contrivances, apparatus, appliances, devices, gadgets, obstacles, impediments or obstructions in thearea between the roadway and sidewalk of any street in the City without first obtaining permissiontherefor from the City Manager.

Taken from: http://www.cityofiowafalls.com/uploads/3/7/1/2/37129133/chapter69.pdf
 
ImperialCyclone said:
in most communities, the grass between the sidewalk and the street is actually the city's (but you have to mow and maintain it).
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I'm not sure if that's true or not. That area may fall into a city/utility easement but I think in most places the homeowner still owns it.
 
I assume you are referring to the "Parking" part of your yard, the grass area between the street and the sidewalk?

If so, that is almost always city property, not yours.

If so, then here would be my first course of action. Ask your neighbor to not drive across the parking that is within your lot line. If they refuse to do that, then I'd call the city. Most of the time, if there is paved sidewalks and streets, most towns don't allow people to park in the "Parking" area. Sounds kind of dumb, but it's true.

If there is no law against parking in the parking, then there isn't really a whole lot you could do about it, if they don't actually block your driveway, because that isn't really your property. If it becomes a maintenance or safety issue, where they are tearing up that part of the yard, then you could probably get the city to do something.

I still think a simple conversation with your neighbor might actually help. Sometimes people do things and don't even realize that it's a problem with other neighbors. Sometimes a simple, "Could you stop doing this." is all the action needed.
 
Also, I didn't research it all for you, but most cities will have ordinances on the number of people who can live in a house that aren't relatives (commune laws). And most will have residential parking info as well. A lot of times there is a limit for the number of vehicles on the premises. Where I live, there is a limit unless each car is owned by one of the relatives (the limit is 1 per relative in the house).
 
dmclone said:
#1 Nearly everyone in my neighborhood has a 3 car garage.
#2 No one in my neighborhood has more than 3 vehicles
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In my neighborhood I would say the average is atleast 3 car garage (more double deep third stalls than two stalls). But those are full of kids ****, a boat, and motorcycles, so all the cars are outside (sometimes with an RV on the side).
 
City issues!! Glad I don't have to worry about that (nor would I worry about it if I was in the city).
 
Are you neighbors parking on the grass between the street and the sidewalk or are they parking on the street itself? If they are parking on the street itself you probably have no legal recourse. If they are parking on the grass, you should pay a visit to your local police department. Normally, I would say to talk to your neighbors but since they have already screamed at you once...
 
BKLYNCyclone said:
...

69.15 PERMISSION REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN OBSTRUCTIONS BETWEEN ROADWAYAND SIDEWALK AREA. No person shall stop, stand or park implements, equipment, machinery,tools, contrivances, apparatus, appliances, devices, gadgets, obstacles, impediments or obstructions in the area between....

Taken from: http://www.cityofiowafalls.com/uploads/3/7/1/2/37129133/chapter69.pdf
Click to expand...

I like the thorough description possible items. Contrivances?! Gadgets?! Got to keep it broad enough for crazy people, but specific enough for consistent "Rule of Law".

These are probably standard city code lists from model codes, but I dig it!
 
ruxCYtable said:
I'm not sure if that's true or not. That area may fall into a city/utility easement but I think in most places the homeowner still owns it.
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No. It is almost always owned by the City. The width if the right-of-way varies from city to city, and even location to location inside the city, but is is almost always owned by the city. Counties in Iowa are the exact opposite. Most of the right-of-way in counties is held by easement.
 
Clonefan94 said:
I assume you are referring to the "Parking" part of your yard, the grass area between the street and the sidewalk?

If so, that is almost always city property, not yours.

If so, then here would be my first course of action. Ask your neighbor to not drive across the parking that is within your lot line. If they refuse to do that, then I'd call the city. Most of the time, if there is paved sidewalks and streets, most towns don't allow people to park in the "Parking" area. Sounds kind of dumb, but it's true.

If there is no law against parking in the parking, then there isn't really a whole lot you could do about it, if they don't actually block your driveway, because that isn't really your property. If it becomes a maintenance or safety issue, where they are tearing up that part of the yard, then you could probably get the city to do something.

I still think a simple conversation with your neighbor might actually help. Sometimes people do things and don't even realize that it's a problem with other neighbors. Sometimes a simple, "Could you stop doing this." is all the action needed.
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"Parking" part of a yard?? I've never heard of this. I agree it is almost certainly owned by the city, since the city would own at least out to the sidewalk and probably a few feet beyond in most places. Still, I've never heard of a place where the grass between the sidewalk and street is designated for parking.
 
mb7299 said:
I've had a little bit of a problem with some new people that moved into the house right next to me. They are parking on the street side of the sidewalk on their side and then driving out on my property. So first of all is it even legal in most communities to park on the street side of the sidewalk? Also anyone know about limits of vehicles you can park in front of your home (they have half a lot) and usually have 5-6 cars parked on the street and their property, I dont think they are of relation. I should state that I live in Iowa Falls because I realize each town has different rules.
*Should have added that yes they are parking on the grass that is on the on the street side which is city property. Sorry for not clarifying.
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get-off-my-lawn.gif
 
mb7299 said:
Ha your not the first person to recommend that to me, I actually put some rocks out there to mark the property lines and they stole them (river rocks so not a big deal). Brought it up to them in a respectful manner and two of them came out of their house to scream at me, not even knowing what the conversation was lol. Needless to say my IQ dropped.
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Let me guess . . . Hawkeye fans?
 
Depends on the city ordinances but if they park cars on the street and they sit for several days without moving most cities have some kind of ordinance that they have to move within ever 24 or 48 hours. Ran into this with my old neighborhood, the lady next door got really upset with one of our neighbors that would park 1 of his cars on the street in front of her house (actually it was a house she was renting so it wasn't really hers) and called the police on it. Well they explained to her and the owner that as long as it moves at least so many feet within 24 hours its a public street and they can't/won't do anything about it. Well he only parked it on the street at night so she had no case and on the weekends he would go out an move it a few feet down the curb and just wave at her with a smile if she was outside. Yeah it's annoying to have the same car(s) parked out in front of your house but not much you can do about it since the street is public property. If they are sitting parked in the same spot for extended time is about the only way you can get them towed or moved. Best thing is try to work it out with your neighbors in a civil manner if it becomes a big issue
 
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