Zoning and Code Enforcement Issues - November 2006
Hardly a day goes by that a call is not received that pertains to a zoning question, a zoning violation or a code issue. It seems that more and more of my time is being spent in this area. Several items are being worked on at this time.
Commercial vehicles – they are NOT welcome in our community, that is unless they are here performing a service for a resident – and that is the only allowed use. You may NOT bring home your work vehicle IF it has equipment visible or it has more than a name on the driver’s or passenger’s door. If it is over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, it is not permitted at all!
Any non-motorized motor vehicle (that is, a trailer) cannot be parked on a county street at any time unless loading or unloading is in progress. However, they can be parked in your driveway as long as they do not have advertising on them. If the trailer has a boat on it, it can only be parked in a side or rear yard, ten(10) feet behind the front line of your house and two and one-half (2 ½) feet from any property line. House trailers, camper trailers and motor homes cannot be on the street at any time unless they are being loaded or unloaded in preparation for use. They can NEVER be in a set up state or be utilized in a residential zone.
ALL motor vehicles motorized and non-motorized MUCH have valid license tags and dated validation stickers. Vehicles on county streets can be ticketed and towed. Vehicles on your property and be cited by code enforcement. If a vehicle is to be “donated”, it must continue to display valid license tags until the towing company arrives to pick it up.
We get a lot of questions about building set backs. This is the distance that you must leave empty between your house and the front, side or rear property line. This information is on the property plat that was filed when your sub-division was approved by Baltimore County. We do not have these plats in our files and cannot advise you on a lot by lot basis. They are available for viewing at the zoning desk at the Permits and Development Management office in the Baltimore County Office Building. Many of our homes were built on the front set back line. Most are on or near the side set back line. The rear yard often allows room for expansion.
We are currently pursuing an automobile sales business which is operating out of a residence in violation of zoning regulations. This operation has been cited before but continues to flaunt the code. Recent violation notices have been issued. A Code Enforcement officer has been making regular inspections.
While it might take time for me to get back to you regarding a violation or a question, please continue to call – “that’s what we do” as we hear in an advertisement for a Baltimore business – and we are here to help you in any way that we can.
Zoning Regulations You Need to Know
Can I build a garden shed? I have a boat that I need to store over the winter. Where can I store it? I drive a company vehicle. Can I keep it at my residence? I am thinking about moving to a “retirement home” but would like to keep my house and rent it out. Are there any zoning restrictions that I need to know about? Can I sell my car? Here are the answers to these questions.
1. Garden sheds. You can erect a garden shed as long as it is less than 100 square feet and is placed in your rear yard at least 2 ½ feet from any property line. If the shed is greater than 100 square feet, you will need a permit – the location still applies. If you own a corner lot, the shed must be placed in the half of the yard which is away from the side street.
2. Boats, motor homes and trailers. You may store one of either a boat, a motor home or a house trailer on your property as long as it is stored in a side or rear yard, 2 ½ feet from the side and rear property lines and at least 10 feet behind the front line of your house. A motor home or trailer may not be set up for occupancy or occupied at any time while on your property.
3. Commercial vehicles. A commercial vehicle under 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight may be brought home as long as it is parked off the street preferably in the rear of the property in a driveway or garage. A commercial vehicle may have advertising on only the front doors of the vehicle – no where else. No equipment may be visible on, in the bed of or attached to the vehicle.
4. Rental property. You may rent your home as you desire but the occupants of a rental home are restricted to no more than two unrelated persons. That means that renting to a group of unrelated individuals is prohibited – but you may rent to a family.
5. Automobile sales. You may sell a motor vehicle which is your own (have title to) either on your property or on the street in front of your property. You may not sell any vehicle in a residentially zoned area where you are acting as an agent for the owner or have no ownership interest other than a business ownership in the vehicle.
6. Further regarding motor vehicles. Every motor vehicle whether on the street or on your property must have a current license plate and a current validation sticker. Also, the vehicle must be in operating condition, i.e., no flat tires, no missing fenders, no missing hoods, and a working engine.
While these are generalized summaries of the regulations, DVIA will advise the occupants/owners of any property that a violation is suspected before asking Baltimore County to intervene. If you believe that you are not in violation, we welcome your comments and will work with you to correct any misunderstandings before Baltimore County becomes involved.
Why Does DVIA Enforce Baltimore County Code?
Are you proud of the way our community looks? We are! And that is why we enforce the Baltimore County Code and especially the Baltimore County Zoning Code. While the code may seem restrictive to some, the provisions of the code help maintain the high standards that have made our community one of the most desirable communities in Baltimore County.
For the most part, the code is easy to understand and live under. Zoning Regulations protect us from intrusion by property owners who do not maintain their real estate and improvements. Baltimore County Code and Zoning Regulations keep the boats, house trailers, campers and commercial vehicles from the streets in our community and from the front yards of the homes.
This gives our community a very attractive look – a plus when friends visit and those seeking a home in our community drive through. Drive through other areas of the county – even in nearby communities – and look at what you see. You will see the difference in our DVIA area. Property values remain high – and we look good! Thanks for doing your part!