FROM PRATTVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
*Clarification: This is for RESIDENTIAL properties. *
Have a yard that looks like a used car lot? Backyard looking like a U-Pull-It lot or scene out of the Walking Dead? Is where once grass grew abundantly now replaced with bare spots and oil stains due to sustained external vehicular storage? If so, you may want to read on…
Recently, several existing ordinances were revised and one new ordinance (46-106) was adopted within the City of Prattville limits regarding this issue, which all now requires that vehicles parked at a residence must either be within the designated driveway area of the property or adjacent to the driveway along the street (with the flow of traffic) in front of the residence. If parked in the rear of the residence longer than 72 consecutive hours, it must be enclosed by a 6 ft. opaque fence. Additionally, no vehicle can be parked on vacant parcels of land that does not have principal structure for more than 72 hours nor can a parked vehicle be in a state of major disassembly, disrepair or in the process of being stripped or dismantled, unless the vehicle is in an enclosed garage or other similar structure or behind a fence (as stated above) if parked in the rear.
This ordinance includes exceptions for limited use purposes such as loading/unloading or washing a vehicle (no more than a 48 consecutive hour time period), special events where parking would not exceed 72 consecutive hours, emergency vehicles during service calls, and provisions for historical districts.
If parked vehicles are found to be in violation of this ordinance, a notice of violation (NOV) will be given to the property owner and registered owners of said vehicles will then have ten (10) calendar days to bring property into compliance. If still found to be in violation after this time period, all vehicles in violation will be impounded by the Prattville Police Department and towed by an approved towing company to their local lot at the registered owner’s expense (including tow and storage fees), as well as fined by the City for the violation(s). Vehicles will be released for owners to retrieve from the lots by the City once the fines have been paid to the Municipal Court.
As with all ordinances, this is applicable to within the corporate city limits of Prattville ONLY, NOT the police jurisdiction area outside of those limits. If you find yourself in any of these situations, please do what is necessary to clean up the vehicles and property BEFORE our Code Enforcement officers begin enforcement of this new ordinance.
Ordinance codes for this section can be found at https://library.municode.com/…/codes/code_of_ordinances..
(Currently, the new ordinance and changes are not on this site as of date of post. Will post images of the signed resolution in the comments below until the site can be updated.)
As always, call us if you should need us.
