Farmers Branch council considers new limits on oversized vehicles in residential areas

City staff presented a draft ordinance to the Farmers Branch City Council study session on April 1 that would restrict parking and storage of oversized vehicles in residentially zoned areas and asked council for direction on sizing, types and enforcement.

The proposal, delivered by Christina Raimheld, Code Enforcement Manager, would define “oversized vehicle” and ban parking or storing a vehicle in excess of 9 feet in width or 23 feet in length in residential districts; it would also bar parking in rear or side yards unless the vehicle is concealed from the right-of-way by a permitted wall, fence, vegetation or combination thereof. Raimheld said the 23-foot length was reduced from an earlier 30-foot figure after additional research of other cities’ codes.

Councilmembers said the draft was a constructive starting point but asked staff to tighten the definitions and to consider adding restrictions by vehicle type as well as a phased compliance period. “I requested this item as a result of receiving many emails and comments from residents about their concern for the excessive number and amount of boats, RVs, campers,” Councilmember Neal said, and added he generally liked the draft but was concerned some vehicles shorter than 23 feet still create neighborhood blight. Councilmember Jackson said a length-and-width standard would not cover trailers “full of junk” or boats with torn covers and suggested separate language for trailers and for vehicle contents.

Several councilmembers compared the proposed size limits with neighboring cities. Raimheld provided examples: Addison (25 feet in length; 8 feet width; 10 feet height), Carrollton (8 feet, 6 inches width or 40 feet in length), Colleyville (weight limit 1.5 tons), Flower Mound (8.5 ft width, 14 ft height, 36 ft length), Garland (16 feet length or 9,000 gross vehicle weight), Irving (1.5 tons), and Richardson (23 feet length, 8 feet width, 10 feet height). Councilmember Reid said the 23-foot length aligns with the stricter end of other cities.

Councilmembers also urged coordination with existing street-parking and public-safety ordinances enforced by the police department, noting that regulations for vehicles parked in the public right-of-way are handled separately. Councilmember Jackson and others asked staff to draft language that would address trailers and the contents of trailers as a distinct category if the goal is to reduce eyesores rather than only large vehicle bulk. At least one councilmember recommended a grace period to allow residents time to comply; Richardson’s prior phased approach was cited as an example, including a three-year public-education and compliance period.

No formal vote was held during the study session. Staff confirmed they understood the council’s direction to return with revised ordinance language that narrows or clarifies definitions, considers vehicle-type-based restrictions, addresses trailers and contents, and includes a recommended compliance timeline.

The discussion follows a brief history provided by Raimheld: Farmers Branch previously regulated special vehicles in the late 1990s, including a 1997 ordinance that required RVs to be stored at the rear of property on an improved surface and screened from view; subsequent 1998 amendments removed some screening and grandfathering provisions, and by late 1998 the city eliminated grandfathering after legal counsel advised the provision could discriminate against new residents. Raimheld said the city currently lacks an ordinance that regulates oversized vehicles parked on private property in residential zones.

Councilmembers asked staff to return the item as a regular agenda item after incorporating the requested changes and options for a compliance timeline.