Operating Home Businesses Without Permits
Many homeowners think running a small business from their garage or spare bedroom is perfectly legal as long as they keep it quiet. Home businesses are highly regulated. Businesses that cannot be run from home include auto repair shops, contractor’s yards, adult-oriented businesses and retail businesses. You also may not store commercial vehicles at your home. Cities like Austin have specific zoning requirements that many homeowners simply aren’t aware of, and what seems like innocent entrepreneurship can quickly turn into expensive violations.
The regulations get even trickier when you consider what qualifies as a home business versus a hobby. A dwelling utilized as a rooming or boarding house may be in violation of the Zoning Code. Rooming houses require a permit. All residential zone districts limit the number of dwelling units on the property. Even something as simple as taking in a paying boarder could potentially violate local housing codes.
Ignoring Setback Requirements for Structures
Parcels in Agricultural and Residential Zones have a front, side and rear yard setback. A yard setback means an open space on the property without any structures as measured from the property lines. That beautiful garden shed you installed last weekend might be sitting in violation territory if it’s too close to your neighbor’s property line. The required distances vary by municipality, but they’re strictly enforced once discovered.
According to some jurisdictions, an accessory structure may need to be maintained within required setback areas of a residential property. The specific requirements vary significantly by location and can range from three to fifteen feet or more. Even small structures like dog houses or storage containers can trigger violations. What makes this particularly frustrating is that these rules often aren’t clearly posted or easily accessible to average homeowners.
Parking Violations in Front Yards
The parking or storage of vehicles in front yard areas is not allowed unless on a driveway, which is the area leading directly to an approved garage or carport. Your teenage son’s car parked on the grass might seem harmless, but it could be costing you hundreds in fines. Many suburban neighborhoods have specific regulations about where vehicles can be stored, and front yard parking is frequently prohibited.
Motor vehicles must be parked on a hard surface, asphalt, concrete or gravel. Any permanent parking areas containing five or more spaces must be surfaced with a hard-surfaced, dustless material. The rules extend beyond just location to the actual surface material. Even if you’re parking in an allowed area, the ground beneath your vehicle needs to meet specific standards that most homeowners never consider.
Performing Home Improvements Without Permits
If contractors don’t pull permits, homeowners are responsible for obtaining them after the fact. That DIY bathroom renovation you’re so proud of might be a legal nightmare waiting to happen. Some jurisdictions may even fine you each day while the construction is in progress. If they discover the work after it’s completed, they will still fine you and require you to apply for the proper permits. If a contractor is involved, the contractor and homeowner may both be fined for the same violations.
The financial consequences can be devastating. Completing a project without a permit could result in major fines or having to tear it down and start over. If a project goes forward without a permit, the fee will likely fall to both the homeowner and the contractor. Even worse, unpermitted work can significantly impact your home’s value and create liability issues if someone gets injured.
Storing Recreational Vehicles Improperly
Recreational vehicles, such as motorhomes, travel trailers, and boats, are not allowed to be stored, parked, or maintained in the driveway, except under specific conditions within the Rowland Heights Community Standards Districts. Many homeowners assume their driveway is their castle, but local zoning laws often have strict rules about what can be parked there long-term. That boat you use twice a year might be violating city ordinances every day it sits in your driveway.
Commercial vehicles face even stricter regulations. A vehicle with a manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds may not be parked on a residentially zoned or developed lot except for the purpose of providing temporary service. Your work truck might be perfectly legal during business hours but become a violation when parked overnight at your residence.
Conducting Automotive Repairs at Home
Automobile repair activities such as dismantling, body & fender repair, painting, engine overhaul, transmission repair, battery, brakes, muffler, or radiator installation, and upholstering are not permitted in Residential and Agricultural Zones and outside of an enclosed structure in Commercial and Industrial zones. Working on your own car in your garage might seem like an innocent weekend hobby, but many municipalities have strict rules about automotive repair activities.
The repairs must be to vehicles owned by either the owner-occupant or their tenant. Major repairs that require dismantling the vehicles major components is prohibited. Repair or stripping of vehicles by individuals engaged in an auto repair business in a residential zone district is prohibited. The line between acceptable maintenance and prohibited repair work is often blurrier than homeowners realize, and what constitutes “major repairs” varies significantly between jurisdictions.
Violating Tree Protection Ordinances
Oak trees are a protected tree species. Encroachment into the protected zone of an oak tree, as well as damage to and/or removal of an oak tree without LA County Planning approval is generally not allowed. The protected zone of an oak tree is measured 15 feet from the trunk, or five (5) feet from the dripline (canopy), whichever is greater. That innocent-looking fence you installed might be slowly killing a protected tree if it’s interfering with the root system.
It is unlawful to remove a “protected tree” without first obtaining a Tree Removal Permit. Learn more about Tree Removal requirements. Even routine landscaping activities like grading or adding fill dirt can violate tree protection laws. Many homeowners discover these violations only when they’re trying to sell their property and the violations surface during inspections.