Oakland Park approves ordinance limiting outdoor vehicle repairs in residential areas

The Oakland Park City Commission on Jan. 15 voted unanimously to adopt a text amendment to the city’s land development code that restricts repair and maintenance of vehicles in residential districts and sets new limits on outdoor storage and visible nonoperable vehicles.

The ordinance, passed on second reading as case CD 24-24T, updates Chapter 24 by amending sections governing repairs, license-plate display and repair/maintenance activities. City staff said the changes aim to limit major mechanical or body work visible from public rights-of-way while still allowing limited, short-duration minor repairs.

Staff presented the amendment as a staff-initiated text change that the Planning & Zoning Board recommended on Sept. 9. Sierra Marrero, the city’s director of engineering and community development, told the commission the ordinance allows ‘‘minor repairs’’ in carports or open areas for short durations but requires major repairs to be performed in an enclosed garage. The amendment expands coverage to explicitly include motorcycles, recreational vehicles and campers, and it prohibits auto body work and painting in the affected districts. Marrero said the change was adjusted after Planning & Zoning input to increase the allowable time for vehicles in disrepair to 24 hours from the originally proposed shorter period.

Brad Ostroff, who oversees building and community services, described enforcement steps and evidence requirements. ‘‘If they’re legally parked within private residence, then there’s really nothing we could do,’’ Ostroff said. He added that the ordinance requires visible current registration; if an officer cannot confirm registration because a vehicle is covered, code enforcement ‘‘has every right to go knock on the door as a code enforcement officer and ask to see that proof and take appropriate actions if the proof is not given.’’ Ostroff also said code officers are assigned to zones and that they handle complaints and proactively inspect major corridors.

Commissioners raised enforcement questions during discussion. Staff confirmed the city has six enforcement officers who are assigned to zones and respond to complaints and proactively patrol major corridors; officers are required by statute to address all code violations observed on a property, not just a single item. City staff also said Broward Sheriff’s Office can take action on covered or unregistered vehicles found on public streets.

The ordinance passed on second reading by roll call vote of 5-0. The commission was presented with the updated text after the item had passed first reading on Dec. 4 by the same 5-0 margin and after Planning & Zoning’s recommendation. The ordinance provides for severability and an effective date but the commission did not specify the effective date during the hearing.

The amendment will be incorporated into the city’s Land Development Code (Chapter 24) in sections identified by staff as 24-64(2)(g), 24-65 and 24-79(a)(10). Staff said an educational outreach component will accompany enforcement to inform residents of the new requirements and how registration and minor repair allowances apply.