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Council debates whether to restrict sales of vehicles on private property; leans to narrow residential limit
Summary
Council discussed removing a special-use permit requirement for vehicles sold on private property, the practicality of requiring property-owner permission on seller windshields, and whether to keep a one-vehicle limit for residential properties. Staff warned enforcement would be difficult if numeric limits lack defensible justification.
El Campo staff presented options for regulating vehicles offered for sale on private property, and councilmembers largely favored simplifying rules for commercial parcels while keeping modest limits on residential properties.
Staff described choices including removing the special-use permit requirement, setting a maximum number of vehicles allowed for sale on a parcel, denying shared-parking exceptions, or leaving the current rule in place. Legal counsel warned that any numeric limit must be defensible if challenged.
"If we're gonna put a count on, how many they can have out there, then we need to be able to back up why we're using that number," staff said.
Some councilmembers suggested allowing sales on private property when the property owner displays permission, but staff cautioned that enforcement would be difficult because vehicles placed for sale may be sold quickly and compliance markers could be ephemeral. Council appeared to favor keeping a limit of one vehicle for sale on a residential property at a time and removing complex commercial restrictions for now.
Staff recommended consulting with legal and enforcement teams and returning with refined language; no ordinance change or vote occurred during the session.
