What You Can Do If A Car Is Parked In Front Of Your Home Or Driveway

Neglected or an overabundance of parked cars on your street are common issues that are damaging your home's curb appeal. Daily problems can also arise if you struggle with getting in and out of your property. Don't let it bother you anymore! Communicating with the vehicle owner, using no parking signs, calling the police, and legally towing are what you can do if a car is parked in front of your home or driveway illegally.

Before you start the tedious journey to get a parked car off or away from your private property, there are some basic things you need to know. First, you need to determine if your home is on a public or private street. Typically, most residential houses are on public streets, which are open to everyone because they are owned by the city. Private streets are maintained and owned by a homeowner or a private neighborhood. Not every city or state will have the same laws and regulations. For example, Berwyn Heights, Maryland has a 72-hour rule where non-neighborhood members can stay parked before they are ticketed, while in Houston, Texas a vehicle can't stay in the same spot on a public street for over 24 hours. In most places, it is illegal to park in front of someone's driveway or a place that blocks emergency vehicles, but always check your local laws, because some states (like Georgia) allow vehicles to block a driveway for a short amount of time to drop someone off.

While you may be tempted to take immediate action, most of the time it is illegal to tow a car on a public street, so instead start with simple communication. If you personally know or see the car owner, start by having a conversation, letting them know your concerns. Miss the chance to speak? A friendly, handwritten note left on the vehicle is also a great alternative. Typically, a polite conversation with the individual will resolve the issue; however, it is important to remember that if the road is public, any car can park in front of your home as long as they follow the city's guidelines.

In general, you can communicate that you don't want a parked car near your home by placing out a no parking sign. Before you post a notice in your yard, every place has strict regulations about posting yard signs that you should know about. For example, in some places like San Antonio, Texas, public streets in neighborhoods can't have one of these signs unless they are in a no parking zone. However, if you own the road, you can set out one of these signs as long as you are following the signage requirements. No parking signs can also be posted on private property to deter people from parking on larger real estate you may own.

Sometimes friendly notices and signs don't do the trick. Other actions you can take are calling the police or a tow truck to physically remove the automobile. Whenever it comes to issues with other people, many of us dial up our local law enforcement; however, the police can only truly help if the car is suspicious in any way or blocking your driveway. Any prohibited vehicle law enforcement finds gets a hefty fine and is towed away by them. If there is no suspicious activity or people and the owner is not breaking the law, they will direct you to start a civil case against that individual.

Sometimes people leave unfamiliar cars. If it's been a couple of days and the abandoned car is still on your land, you can hire a tow company to remove the automobile off your premises. Anyone who lives in a neighborhood should wait for the cops to arrive and call the tow, since illegally towing a car can get you in serious hot water. It's important to remember that if you live on a public road, any non-working vehicles you have can be towed by the city. Don't let that happen; instead, protect your asset by building a new garage on your property.