Magistrate clarifies village rules for trailers and 'commercial work vehicles' after multiple citations

Multiple hearings on June 11 centered on trailers, open equipment loads and vehicles that village staff classified as “commercial work vehicles.” The magistrate and code officers explained how those rules apply and why property owners were cited.

The village cited a number of property owners under code provisions governing prohibited or restricted vehicles, including cases where trailers carried unsecured loads or were parked in roadways. An attorney for one respondent argued the household activities were not a commercial business; village staff relied on the code definition, which treats a towed trailer that “contains an unconcealed load of equipment, cargo, tools, trash, or construction material” as a commercial work vehicle. As Code Enforcement explained, that classification makes the trailer a prohibited vehicle if left on the roadway or otherwise not screened.

Special Magistrate Doug Macgibbon granted multiple findings of fact where owners either remedied the situation or confirmed compliance at the hearing. He also explained options owners have to comply going forward: keep trailers inside a closed garage, park them on a side yard screened from view, use closed box trailers with no writing, or remove unconcealed loads.

Why it matters: Homeowners who store equipment or tow trailers need to know the village distinguishes between closed trailers and open trailers with visible cargo, and that the latter are subject to stricter storage and screening requirements.

Key clarifications from the hearing: - “Commercial work vehicle” is defined broadly in the village code to include towed trailers with unconcealed loads; if a trailer carries items openly it can be treated as a prohibited vehicle even if the owner does not operate a business, code staff said on the record. - Restricted vehicles must be parked on one side of the home and, if open, must be screened from view; box trailers without writing may be parked on the side of the home without screening. - If a trailer is parked in the roadway, it may be cited as a prohibited vehicle; magistrate noted owners could avoid enforcement by parking on‑site and screening or by using an enclosed trailer.

The magistrate denied motions to overturn citations in several contested matters but entered findings of fact where properties complied during the hearing or were otherwise resolved.