Montgomery County officials want to rid the suburb of lawns that look like parking lots and driveways overrun with massive vehicles used for businesses.
The County Council on Tuesday will vote on a bill from County Executive Ike Leggett that would keep homeowners from parking cars in their front yard and remove large commercial vehicles from their driveways. The suburb already bans parking such vehicles permanently on the street.
The crackdown sought by Leggett stems from a series of complaints in Aspen Hill — a pocket that stretches between Rockville, Silver Spring and Wheaton — where mobile eateries and tow trucks line the neighborhoods.
Some officials who asked not to be named said the measure was aimed at a heavily Hispanic population in the area.
The prohibition on so-called “heavy commercial vehicles” applies to those that are 21 feet long or more than 8 feet high. And aside from temporary parking for visitors or loading purposes, vehicles of all sizes would also be barred from the front lawn.
But some worry about carrying out the strict law.
“How are you going to enforce this?” said Councilman Mike Knapp, D-Germantown. “If you can’t park your vehicle on the street or in the driveway, where do you go? I certainly don’t know the answer.”
Right now, there is no specific rule that prohibits parking vehicles in front yards. But if the car damages the property, that is considered a violation of county code.
Jurisdictions throughout the area have increased efforts to keep residential areas free of gigantic vehicles, as homeowners say they clog the streets and make their neighborhoods feel too commercial.
Boats, trailers, motor homes, and ladder and construction trucks were among those banned in residential zones by parking rules enacted in Fairfax County this year. Alexandria also has an outright ban on such cars in residential areas.
Knapp, though, questioned whether Montgomery is reaching too far.
“I’m not sure I want people parking semi-trucks in their driveway; but at the end of the day, it is their property,” he said. “I don’t want to be overly restrictive.”
Violators would face a $500 fine for each day not in compliance, under the proposal.
The bill would also put tighter rules on those who use their houses for business, as residents would be required to prove they live at the home and allow the county’s Department of Permitting Services to inspect the property first.
