Enclosed trailers and neigbohoods/suburbs...

I'm thinking about buying a 6x10 enclosed trailer to use to bring my bike to the track and for other times where I need to move a bike etc...

Right now I have a small trailer 4x8 and it's foldeable. I leave it in the backyard and I have never had any problems with a neighbor complaining. It's however very small and you can barely tell it's there. I know an enclosed trailer blocks the view a lot more. I am wondering if I can legaly have an enclosed trailer in my backyard.

I am not part of an actual neigborhood so I don't have to deal with an association or anything like that, just the city. In the past I had kept a wrecked car in the backyard for a month or so and have had a letter saying that I could not leave a car in the backyard etc...

I am curious to know where I can look up wether or not I can keep the trailer in the backyard or not. Anybody with first hand experience on that?

Your phone book should have some blue-pages with governement listings. Look under city or local for anything that might relate to zoning, records, permits, planning and inspections, city clerk, etc...

They'll have the regulations.

[DEPO]

Get your Covenences also if it is a subdivision. TRUST ME ON THIS.
We are in an upper-middle class subdivision and right now we have two lawyers who are suing eachother and other residence, because one asked for anyone with trailers in their drives (against the rules) to move them.

The other one said ok, I will move my trailer, but anyone with a fence 4 foot 7 inches (rule is 4 foot 6) needs to take out their chainsaw and take an inch off. It is getting crazy.

So check them carefully!

[luvtolean]

Originally Posted by DEPO

Get your Covenences also if it is a subdivision. TRUST ME ON THIS.
We are in an upper-middle class subdivision and right now we have two lawyers who are suing eachother and other residence, because one asked for anyone with trailers in their drives (against the rules) to move them.

The other one said ok, I will move my trailer, but anyone with a fence 4 foot 7 inches (rule is 4 foot 6) needs to take out their chainsaw and take an inch off. It is getting crazy.

So check them carefully!

Yep, that's exactly what I'd do if some sonofabitch complained about it. What's fair is fair.

In my subdivision you can't park a trailer on the street for more than 2 days. EVEN IF THE DAMN PLACE IS IN THE MIDST OF A NATURAL DISASTER.

Going through the "rules" for my area my GF found one disallowing all automotive repair inside your garage. We called the city clerk and she said it was to keep people from having commercial shops in their garages. Well, in their rules about pets they allow them, but specifically allow dogs and cats, but no commercial breeding.

We didn't buy the house. If I had a prick neighbor, or prick code enforcement guy (which is exactly what we have) you end up in a neverending loop of bullshit.

I can't park in front of my house every other Tuesday. I was packing my truck to leave town, and the evil little bastard gave me a parking ticket. Waited until I went inside my house for another bag, gave the ticket and got out.

I am leaving this **** town at some expense. Always, ALWAYS read the rules before you buy or rent a house.

Yup, as others have said, check the rules. I'm glad I don't live in a subdivision, but our town still has rules about how close a shed can be to the property line and such. I haven't had anyone complain about my trailer. There may be rules about it, I don't even know. It sucks when you can't park something on your own property.

Note that subdivision deed restrictions are a private deal, not government and if you have those you are completely screwed. In your local government, check with both the zoning office and something like code enforcement. In larger towns, they may be two different offices with different ordinances that they enforce. Dogs and cats and junk cars, etc might be in a property maintanence code, not zoning. If there is a ban or other restriction, ask for the code section and read it yourself to see if it really applies to you.

My own planning office was responsible for restrictions on RV's and boats parked on your lot. My loopholes were that mine isn't over seven feet high, and it's a cargo trailer, not an RV. Do gooder, status quo suburbanites are responsible for this nonsense thinking they live in some utopia or maybe Stepford. In some places you have code enforcement nazis out prowling the streets looking to get you. In most places, neighbors complaining are the cause. Sometimes you can wear them down by appealing or just not doing anything.

Not being able to fix your own toys in your own garage sounds highly unconstitutional but, if nobody's going to appeal it you'll never know.

[luvtolean]

Originally Posted by RC51Mike

Note that subdivision deed restrictions are a private deal, not government and if you have those you are completely screwed.

In the shithole known as Perris, CA, it is all city done code enforcement. Trust me, a homeowner's association is much preferred. Our tickets have no warning, and are all done through the court system, so you have legal trouble.

The problem with deed restrictions in a homeowners' association is that you can't appeal them or challenge them. Well, you can but you will always lose. At least with the law, it can be challenged. Government can't just make up (legally anyway) crazy stuff like the color of your curtains what kind of flowers you can plant unless there is a compelling public interest. It can't be arbitrary and capricious by law. Homeowners' associations can be.

[luvtolean]

Yes, but they're free.

My stuff comes through the government. And oh, btw, is subcontracted to the courts in Huntington Beach.

Believe me, you don't want the government telling you to do something when an HOA could.

I originally bought my house in that division under the guise there was no HOA...only the HOA carried a badge.

[BDA116]

Socialism rocks!!!!

All this bullshit is why I will never buy a home in some piss ant subdivision that has a home owners assoc. or any bs like that. I will put my trailer, boat, jetski or whatever where I want when I want and no ****er will tell me otherwise. I will have big parties with big fires and loud music till all hours of the night and the cops will not show up unless they were invited(which some of them usually are). This is why I make sure I don't live in the city or in any bs neighborhood like that.

Originally Posted by RC51Mike

The problem with deed restrictions in a homeowners' association is that you can't appeal them or challenge them. Well, you can but you will always lose. At least with the law, it can be challenged. Government can't just make up (legally anyway) crazy stuff like the color of your curtains what kind of flowers you can plant unless there is a compelling public interest. It can't be arbitrary and capricious by law. Homeowners' associations can be.

and try to remove a restriction from a deed sometime in the future

I am for as little interference as possible but in this case government is elected and at least a little accountable. The old biddy down the road is not.

[DEPO]

Originally Posted by Getsome

All this bullshit is why I will never buy a home in some piss ant subdivision that has a home owners assoc. or any bs like that. I will put my trailer, boat, jetski or whatever where I want when I want and no ****er will tell me otherwise. I will have big parties with big fires and loud music till all hours of the night and the cops will not show up unless they were invited(which some of them usually are). This is why I make sure I don't live in the city or in any bs neighborhood like that.

I appreciate your opinion on this, and that is why choice is important, but you must respect the laws governing the area.

When you buy a home, you buy in to the covenances that were provided. Personally I have no problem with a trailer that hauls your bike to come to your house or be in the driveway for a few days. But, when you have 4000 square foot homes in an upper middle class subdivision that has clear covenances in regards to motor vehicles and a guy down the block has three cars and a boat in his yard, That is a problem.

Am I going to be able to sell my home to another person my house or will they go to the subdivision that enforces these covenances?

I do not agree with the subdivisions that say no Direct TV dishes attached to the front of the house, only in back and that no cars may be parked in the driveway overnight they must be in the garage.

Just make sure you read the covenances and be willing to follow them. If you do not agree with one, you may petition to have it changed, but it must be approved with a 2/3rds vote in most states.

[CBR929RE]

Originally Posted by DEPO

But, when you have 4000 square foot homes in an upper middle class subdivision that has clear covenances in regards to motor vehicles and a guy down the block has three cars and a boat in his yard, That is a problem.

what if he paves the area under them (assuming thats not against the rules).

I think around here most of the rules apply to permanent structures and how close they are to the property line. The only law I can think of in my town is you can't have more than 1 unregistered car on your property. I believe you can park your rv or trailer anywhere on your property that you want.



I don't agree with any of that crap where people tell me what I can or can't do with my property (of course I don't own any property now but the feelings are the same). But I also think you shouldn't be an ass and should keep your place looking decent anyway. Like why would anyone want a bunch of junk cars in their yard.

[Red Rider]

It's a free country and you can live wherever you want, providing you can afford it. If you buy a home in a town, subdivision, or community that has ordinances, zoning, or covenants that you don't like than DON'T BUY THE FRIGGIN' HOUSE! What amazes me is someone who buys property and doesn't bother to do the research first and than bitches when they find out they can't leave an RV, boat, snowmobile trailer, bike trailer, and their work vehicle all parked in the front yard and then bitch about it.

[ConqSoft]

Originally Posted by Red Rider

It's a free country and you can live wherever you want, providing you can afford it. If you buy a home in a town, subdivision, or community that has ordinances, zoning, or covenants that you don't like than DON'T BUY THE FRIGGIN' HOUSE! What amazes me is someone who buys property and doesn't bother to do the research first and than bitches when they find out they can't leave an RV, boat, snowmobile trailer, bike trailer, and their work vehicle all parked in the front yard and then bitch about it.

+1

I like my property value to go up, and not having to worry about Billy Joe Jim Bob having his house/yard/vehicles falling apart and making the the value go down.

If I didn't want that, I'd live somewhere that didn't have an association. Usually you have to read, sign, and agree to the rules when you buy a house in the area, so I don't see how anyone could be surprised by it.

[luvtolean]

What amazes me is that people like some worthless asshole to tell them what to do with their property.

But hey, what the hell. Might as well make sure everybody fits the nice, boring, prozac eating, yuppie scum 2 car 2.5 kid mold right?

And God forbid someone want to do something at their house other than destroy their brain watching TV every night since you can't even use your own damn garage to do an oil change, much less go out and tinker with your toys.

[Red Rider]

I have 3 kids...

edit: For the record, I don't live in a subdivision or (overly) restrictive community.

edit2: I also do lots of wrenching in my garage...

[luvtolean]

You rounded up.

[ConqSoft]

Originally Posted by Red Rider

I have 3 kids...

With my 0, that brings you down to 1.5. Get busy.