Parking Commercial Vehicles in Residential Area

In residential zoning districts, the dwelling is considered the principle use of the property. Any other use is regarded as an accessory use. Examples of customary residential accessory uses are storage sheds, detached garages or swimming pools. The Chesapeake Zoning Ordinance (CZO) also recognizes the parking of different motor vehicles as an accessory use. The CZO places certain limitations on the size of the commercial vehicles and where they can be parked on a residential lot.

Commercial vehicles are defined in Chesapeake Zoning Ordinance as follows:

Commercial Vehicle - any motor vehicle or trailer typically used for business, industrial, office or institutional purposes or having painted thereon or affixed thereto a sign identifying a business, industry office of institution or a principal product or service of such. Agricultural equipment used as part of a permitted agricultural principal use shall not be considered a commercial vehicle.

Prohibition of vehicles over a specified size. The parking and storage of a commercial vehicle exceeding seven (7) feet in height or twenty (20) feet in length is prohibited in all residential districts. For purposes of this section the phrase "commercial vehicle" shall include self-propelled vehicles, vehicles that are not self-propelled such as utility trailers and other types of trailers designed or used to store or haul equipment and materials and the combination of self-propelled vehicles and vehicles that are not self -propelled.

Limitation on smaller commercial vehicles. Commercial vehicles less than 7 feet tall or 20 feet long may be parked in residential districts subject to the following conditions"

The commercial vehicle must be parked in an enclosed garage, accessory building or rear yard if any sign graphic, either attached or painted on the vehicle, exceeds ten (10) square feet in area or if the commercial vehicle is not self-propelled.

Only one such commercial vehicle, except commercial vehicles that are not self-propelled, may be parked on or in front of any residential lot and must be used by a resident of such lot, except where the commercial vehicle is associated with the maintenance of a multifamily residential development, and is parking in an area specifically identified for such commercial vehicles.