Guelph residents may soon be allowed to park trailers and recreational vehicles in their driveway, but only on a temporary basis.
In a report to council next month, city staff recommends an exemption program be created for private driveways, allowing six exemptions annually per property, with each lasting up to 48 hours.
“In addition, the exemption would only be valid if the parking of the trailer or recreational vehicle does not violate any other parking or bylaw restriction, and that the parking of the vehicle does not obstruct the ability to access or egress from neighbouring driveways,” explains the report.
“If council approves the recommendation, based on feedback from other municipalities, staff will also ... work on a solid legal and enforcement solution that will be implemented prior to commencement.”
Council is slated to discuss the report during its committee of the whole meeting on Nov. 1, beginning at 2 p.m. and streamed live at guelph.ca/live. Whatever the committee decides will go to the Nov. 22 council meeting for potential ratification.
The staff recommendation follows an online survey that received a virtually 50/50 split in opinion, with those who own or rent trailers in favour of allowing driveway parking and those who don’t indicating hesitancy.
The survey received 1,831 valid responses, notes the report.
Parking of trailers and recreational vehicles in private driveways isn’t currently allowed and no consideration was given to lifting that ban.
Under current bylaws, boats, trailers, campers and other recreational vehicles are allowed to be stored in a garage, side yard or rear yard, though using or living in them in those locations isn’t permitted.
If approved by council, the amended bylaws would come into effect early next year.
Anyone found in violation of existing trailer and RV parking rules faces a $135 fine, though repeat offenders may be summoned to court and a larger fine imposed.
The same would apply under revised bylaws.
