City hopes to curb yard parkers

(June 29, 2010) - In an effort to reduce blight in neighborhoods and keep home property values from declining the City is increasing the fine for yard parkers from $10 to $100. 

“Yard parking is a persistent problem in a number of Oklahoma City neighborhoods,” Code Enforcement Manager Charles Locke said. “The practice is an eyesore and can quickly become a neighborhood epidemic.  If we can stop yard parking, we can dramatically enhance the way our community looks.”

More than 8,400 yard parking complaints were logged by the City’s Action Center in 2009.  Most violations occur in aging neighborhoods with one-car garages.

Yard parking also causes damage to water and sewage lines and can impair drainage for neighbors.

It’s a violation of City ordinances to park any type of vehicle on an unimproved surface (grass or lawn) in a residential area.  This includes the front, side or back of your yard or even a vacant lot. Violations may be reported to the Action Center at 297-2535 or online at www.okc.gov.  Code Enforcement Inspectors will check the reported location and issue citations if violations are found.

The new ordinance takes effect July 1.