Is it legal to add one more private parking space in front of my house? (Portland: city hall, school) - City-Data Forum

horsey2k · 09-13-2009, 11:00 PM

Hello, everyone. I just moved to Portland from Japan 2 months ago. It's a nice place here and people are friendly. so finally I owed a house last month. The house has only one private parking space in front of my garage. There is another public parking space on the drive way in front of my front yard. I have 3 cars, one is in gargae, I park the other 2 cars on those two open spaces.

Since my neighbor next to me moved in last month. They have 4 cars. They always park in front of my driveway first, then park the rest of their cars in their spaces. they always show no respect. Although this area is full of cars, but all the people park their cars on their own spaces and their front driveways. Only my neigbour always took my spot first. Every time I came back from school, I had to park my little Beetle hundreds feet away from my house because I did't want to take other people's space. Last week, my windows got broke in.

I was so angry, but I still need to show respect to my neigbourhood. so finally I try to make a solution for my situation. I decide to make a parking space on the lawn in front of my house so I can park my car, and my neigbour can take my spot and I park on the new space. but the entrance will cut through the walkway. Is it legal to do that in Portland?? Do I need to fill out some forms or get a license if I'm doing that? Which governmental department I should contact? I would appreciate if someone could help me with this. My english writing is not so good, so I also attach a picture so you guys can understand what I was talking.

Thank you very much and you have a good day.

Yuki,

Leisesturm · 09-14-2009, 01:15 AM

Parking on ones lawn is tacky. It will mark you as a member of the lower classes. Is that what you want? It doesn't sound like Portland is all that nice or friendly towards you. I've heard that it is better to ask forgiveness than to ask permission, especially where government bureaucracies are concerned. I am only half serious, however. That is because I suspect you also are only half serious. Your main problems, besides materialism, are your neighbors. I would deal with them in that order. Only as a last resort would I desecrate my own property, actually not even as a last resort would I desecrate my property. But that's me.

H

skinem · 09-14-2009, 07:58 AM

Can you afford to pave part of your yard--extending your "private parking lot"? You may have to have a building permit or something like that to do so, but I don't know why you'd have to have permission to do something like that to your own property, unless you belong to one of those dreaded HOAs...

If you did that, you wouldn't be "tacky" by parking on your own lawn, because we sure wouldn't want to be tacky!

JayZ750 · 09-14-2009, 02:31 PM

Have you tried talking to your neighbor? That might be a better option to start with.

horsey2k · 09-14-2009, 07:11 PM

I already talked to them once, but they still parked there 3-4 times a week for overnight. that's why I posted this thread.
Probably it's cultural different, freedom is more important. In Japan, we never parked our cars in front of our neigbour's house to show respect.
I wouldn't do something to make my neigbours in trouble. Well, I will get use to it. Thanks for you guys opinions.

2bpurrfect · 09-15-2009, 02:51 PM

yuki, i would ask the city hall about the parking regulations for homeowners. Maybe you have more rights and your neighbors are violating them? it's possible. also you might get them to stop taking so much space around your property, by sending them a letter that is friendly, about your situation.
I think it is legal to expand your existing driveway, or create a paved space on your lawn. But ask the city building codes or building permits department what you have to do.
In your description, you use the term driveway, but it sounds like you are referring to the street in front of your house. Normally the driveway is the place that you show on your illustration, right in front of your garage and leading to your garage from the street. Where your car is parked on your own property. it can be a short or long driveway but that is what it is called.
good luck yuki, i wish americans in general had more societal respect too! and my family has been here in America for at least 400 years.....maybe some japanese respect can rub off on portland.

jojo4 · 09-15-2009, 03:25 PM

You can park anywhere on the street parking, it is first come first serve. Go ahead and park on the street as close to your house as possible. I don't think anyone will complain. I don't care if my neighbor park in the street in front of my house.
If the neighbor is blocking your drive way so your cars can not get out, that's a different story.

figmalt · 09-15-2009, 04:21 PM

Here is a .pdf showing what the general guidelines for private parking spaces are in Portland. (http://www.portlandonline.com/BDS/IN...125939&c=45494). Depending on the size of your front lawn, you may not be able to add a parking pad since no more than 40% of your yard can be paved. Good luck with your neighbors!

Astrolabe · 09-15-2009, 10:44 PM

If I understand you and your diagram correctly, your neighbor is parking in front of your house, in what you're calling a "driveway" but what we would call the "street."

If he's parking in front of your house and not blocking your entrance to the garage or to your "private parking lot," then he's not breaking any laws. The space in front of your house is a public space, available for anyone to park in.

I understand that it's not very friendly, and personally, I would like to be able to park my car in the space right in front of my house, too, but hey, it's a free country.

I think you really only have a few options. 1. Try to talk to him about it, which probably won't work, and even if it does, someone else will probably park in the space anyway. 2. Try to beat him home so you can get the space. 3. Park wherever you can find a space and repress your feelings of annoyance. 4. Somehow make do with only two cars.

Good luck!

TechmanOR · 09-18-2009, 03:24 AM

What zip code do you live in?

If you're in Portland proper (not just Portland address, but within City of Portland, not unincorporate), then, parking in your yard is NOT permitted and you're subject to a fine.

Parking your car on the lawn = not allowed in city of Portland and it is considered an ordinance violation.

http://www.portlandonline.com/BDS/IN...125939&c=45494
What is a code violation?

As far as parking on the street, some areas in Portland have area parking permit program limiting non-resident parking to a limited time within the same zone boundary or be fined. Vehicles in these areas and/or any public property without a current, valid registration is subject to a fine.

No, the "space" in front of your house isn't yours. It's first come, first serve, provided that these conditions are met.

If there are violations, call 503-823-5195 during the day, or police non-emergency at 823-3333 after hours. I'd suggest this before getting into confrontations with neighbors. If they're cited for a violation, it could be a result of them being "caught" by parking patrol so you're less likely to get in a conflict.