Can I park an RV, boat or trailer at my house in Bellaire?

Where it can go

Bellaire's zoning code says that "in all residential districts" no "recreational vehicle, trailer, boat, motor home or mobile home shall be parked or stored on any abutting street or within the front yard." It also says: "A truck, bus, recreational vehicle, trailer, boat, motor home or mobile home may only be parked behind the rear plane of the primary structure." In plain words, that means behind the back wall line of your house. A spot beside the house, in front of that line, does not qualify.

The same rule covers any truck "exceeding three-fourths (¾) ton capacity" and any bus.

The code defines a recreational vehicle as "a vehicular type unit primarily designed as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping or travel use." A motor home is a unit "designed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping or travel use, built on or permanently attached to a self-propelled motor vehicle chassis."

The code defines the front yard as "an open, unoccupied space on a lot facing a street, extending across the front of a lot between the side lot lines and from the outermost surface of the main building to the front lot line."

Rule: City Code Sec. 24-515; definitions in Sec. 24-202.

Living in it, or storing things in it

Even behind the house, these vehicles "shall not, anywhere within any of such districts, be used as a dwelling or for business, commercial or storage purposes."

Rule: City Code Sec. 24-515.

Parking on the street

Zoning keeps these vehicles off the street next to your lot. The traffic code adds more limits for any vehicle. No one may park "in front of a public or private driveway," on a sidewalk, or "within 15 feet of a fire hydrant." No one may park a vehicle on a roadway "for the principal purpose of" "storing such vehicle for more than 72 hours" or "displaying such vehicle for sale."

Posted "No Truck Parking" signs also apply on listed streets. The code lists Linden Street between Fifth Street and South Rice Avenue. For that rule, the code's definition of "truck" includes a vehicle that "Has three or more axles."

Rule: City Code Sec. 30-94 and Sec. 30-121.

Grass between the street and your house

It is "prohibited to park unattended vehicles on the unsurfaced area" between the street and the structures on the lot, and that area includes "areas covered with grass and/or other vegetation." So you cannot park on your lawn. There is one defense. It applies if the vehicle was parked on an uncurbed street with two wheels on the paved part of the street and two wheels on the unsurfaced area, and the parking "in no way impedes the orderly flow of traffic on said street."

Rule: City Code Sec. 24-516.

What we did not find

We checked Chapter 24 (zoning) and Chapter 30 (traffic and vehicles). We did not find an exception for short stops, such as loading or unloading before a trip. We also did not find a permit that would allow an RV, boat or trailer in the front yard. If you have a special case, ask the city before you park. Your deed restrictions or HOA may be stricter than the city code.

What happens if you don't

Breaking the zoning rules (Sec. 24-515 and Sec. 24-516) can bring a fine of up to $2,000, and each day counts as a new offense (Sec. 1-10). The street-parking rules in Chapter 30 carry a fine of up to $500, and each day counts as a new offense (Sec. 1-10). We did not find a separate fine amount in Chapter 24 or Chapter 30, so the general penalty applies.

Who to call

Development Services Department for zoning questions. Police Department for vehicles parked on the street.

Sources

• City of Bellaire Code of Ordinances, Sec. 24-515 (special off-street parking regulations), Sec. 24-516 (parking on unsurfaced area), Sec. 24-202 (definitions), Sec. 30-94 (parking generally), Sec. 30-121 (truck parking), Sec. 1-10 (general penalty). library.municode.com/tx/bellaire
• Texas Local Government Code Sec. 54.001 (maximum municipal fines).

En español

¿Puede estacionar un vehículo recreativo (RV), un bote o un remolque en su casa en Bellaire? Sí, pero solo detrás de la parte trasera de su casa. En zonas residenciales, el código no permite estos vehículos en el patio delantero ni en la calle frente a su propiedad. Tampoco puede vivir en ellos ni usarlos para almacenamiento o negocios. La regla también cubre camiones de más de tres cuartos de tonelada y autobuses. No puede estacionar en el césped entre la calle y su casa. Además, en cualquier calle no puede estacionar frente a un camino de entrada, sobre la acera ni a menos de 15 pies de un hidrante, y no puede dejar un vehículo en la calzada más de 72 horas para guardarlo. No encontramos una excepción para paradas cortas. Las infracciones de zonificación pueden costar una multa de hasta $2,000, y las reglas de estacionamiento en la calle, hasta $500; cada día cuenta como una infracción nueva. Sus restricciones de escritura o de la asociación de vecinos pueden ser más estrictas. Para preguntas, llame al Departamento de Servicios de Desarrollo, o a la Policía si el vehículo está en la calle.