Vehicle storage in yards must follow city code

QUESTION: Are there any city laws that limit the number of vehicles, boats, trailers and RVs that a person can have stored in their backyard within the city limits? These items have tarps over them and are behind the neighbor’s 6-foot-tall property-border fence, but are still visible to all the neighbors on every side. If so, who is in charge of complaints and how do we contact them? I am just tired of looking out my windows across my well-maintained yard and into a junkyard.
- Nancy

ANSWER: Code enforcement officer Ken Lewis said that as long as the vehicles are licensed, behind a 6-foot fence and covered, they’re legal. City code says they can be “enclosed by an opaque screen with a minimum height of 6 feet” and can also be screened by natural vegetation or structures. Your neighbor seems to be following the code.

RVs have to be licensed and stored on a driveway surface. If there are regular vehicles or light trucks they must be licensed and if there is more than one in the backyard all others must be screened from view. There are rules for so-called “classic” vehicles and for trailers. If you have a complaint or question, call code enforcement: 444-7891. Be aware that Lewis addressed the issue of vehicles here, which is entirely different from yards filled with junk.