Yard eyesores and illegal parking – know the rules for your Midlands neighborhood

Whether you’re a disgruntled neighbor or business owner, it pays to know what’s allowed in your neighborhood – sometimes literally.

The City of Columbia began charging $50 fines in January for residents parking in their front lawn.

Now, Irmo Town Council is cracking down on neighborhood parking for certain large vehicles and fixer-uppers, with enforcement beginning July 1.

Here’s how to keep your vehicles, and yard, in the clear:

What’s changing?

A new town ordinance may affect anyone parking a box truck, trailer, U-Haul or even a limo in their Irmo neighborhood. The code is taking aim at visible parking for heavy-duty vehicles, hoping to reduce neighbor complaints and guard property values.

The code restricts visible parking for flat bed trucks, semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles, which will no longer be able to park in the front yard or on the street in front of the home.

The town says residents must store these vehicles in commercial storage facilities, in a separate, enclosed building, or out of sight in the backyard.

Parking in driveways for boats, RVs and personal trailers remain allowed, but front yard parking is not.

Nicholle Burroughs, Irmo Deputy Town Administrator, said the ordinance was a way to strengthen neighborhood standards, but emphasized that town officials will help residents adjust.

“We want this process to focus on education and cooperation while protecting the investments residents have made in their homes and preserving the character of our community,” Burroughs said.

The ordinance makes exceptions for those moving in or out of a home, vehicles making deliveries or providing a service from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or vehicles within an enclosed, separate building.

Ticketing will fall to the town’s code enforcement officer, but the town is currently focused on raising awareness of the changes, not issuing fines.

Car-enthusiasts should also be on the lookout for changes to the rules about working on cars in the front-yard or driveway of a home. In order to fix up a car visible from the street, homeowners will now have to pay a $25 fee for a restoration permit.

The ordinance was passed last year, but enforcement was delayed to give people time to fully understand the changes.

“Our staff is committed to helping residents understand the new requirements and answering any questions they may have,” Burroughs said.

For more information, read the full ordinance.

Where am I allowed to park?

The city’s rules require all resident cars be parked on a paved driveway or space filled in with an approved material, such as gravel.

That parking space has to be maintained to be in line with local laws, with no weeds or bare patches.

Recreational vehicles, such as boats, must be parked either on a paved driveway or in a yard space behind the front of the house, either to the side or behind the home. Corner lots should park in their backyard to avoid visibility from the street.

Confused or need help? Here’s who you can call

Town rules can get a little confusing. If you need help understanding whether you or a neighbor is meeting requirements, reach out to the department of code compliance. You can reach them at (803) 414-2625 or report a possible violation using this form.

Richland County

What’s in bounds, and what’s not

Richland County does not have any specific rules governing front lawn parking, but cars or trailers that are works-in-progress cannot be parked in homeowners’ yards or driveways – they must be under a covered awning or inside a garage if they’re at the home for more than 24 hours.

If the problem hasn’t been fixed 30 days after a written warning is issued, residents may face misdemeanor charges that could end in an up to $500 fine or 30 days in jail.

Unincorporated communities such as White Rock or Ballantine fall under county codes, which apply to all towns unless they conflict with the town or city’s laws.

If you are unclear about whether you or a neighbor meet county requirements, you can call the Richland Code Enforcement office at (803) 576-1864.

Lexington County

Got junk? Not in the front yard

Whether you or a neighbor has piles of boxes, excess furniture or just “junk,” county rules are clear – Lexington County blocks storage of loose items in a front yard, and limits the presence of a visible storage unit to 60 days. Property owners are responsible for keeping their storage unit clean and clear of any graffiti.

If you feel uncertain about how your home or vehicles line up with county law, you can call the general information line at 803-359-8000.

To file a complaint there is a form on the county’s website residents can fill out. For large, unmanageable accumulations of trash in a front yard, call the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department at 803-785-8230.