Palm Coast council approves limited allowance for one commercial work vehicle in residential driveways on first reading

PALM COAST, Fla. — The City of Palm Coast City Council voted 3–2 on Oct. 21 to approve on first reading an amendment to Chapter 44 of the city code that allows one commercial work vehicle to be parked at a residence under defined conditions, including a gross vehicle weight rating below 26,000 pounds and limits on attachments and visible tools.

The measure was presented by city staff as a response to repeated requests to give tradespeople and small-business owners the ability to keep a single work vehicle at home. City staff said the ordinance changes define “attachments” (racks, storage containers or other commercial equipment securely mounted to the vehicle), require vehicles and attachments to be kept in a “safe, neat, clean and well‑kept manner,” and prohibit attachments that extend the vehicle’s width beyond its rated width by more than 1 inch.

The council majority framed the change as a business‑friendly compromise that preserves neighborhood character. Council member Miller said the ordinance “is the medium that we came to” between removing restrictions entirely and keeping them unchanged. Vice Mayor Pontieri, who voted yes, described the change as “a very reasonable medium…