So what. Your probably wearing a brown shirt and I don't like brown shirts. Nice looking yard & house looks well kept also. I'm glad to have them as neighbors.

Is there an ordinance about where recreational vehicles or towables may be located on personal property? Is the ordinance written referencing towable, unattached property and its resting state?

Of course there's an ordinance https://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=13231
...no person shall park or place a motor vehicle, trailer or watercraft in a front yard. ...

It's nearly impossible to get it enforced though. There are a dozen of these violations within a mile of my house. I report the worst, but nothing has ever happened. Our council person is Yorko the Useless,

"in a front yard", this is parked on a parking pad. The idea is to keep vehicles "literally" off the front yard/grass and the destructive eyesore that could be created by vehicle traffic.It's not a matter of the type or kind of vehicle that needs judged as offensive, rather it's a guideline for protecting property. Looks like this homeowner has acted responsibly. Some would beg for such minor issues in their neighborhood... When I first moved to Lansing and had a brand new, small camper(like this one) parked in my fenced backyard, on a concrete parking pad, a neighbor came over and said this was against ordinance and he'd be calling the city...welcome to the neighborhood!

When I said , some would beg to have such minor issues in their neighborhood I had this in mind...ID 163175. Check out this long, ongoing thread. Seen by 899 people!

Yes, Jan, this is what happens when libs don't have a life.

The laws are not 'guidelines', they spell out in detail what's allowed. Admittedly this is one of the better looking violations. See my other posts for worse examples. They are ALL violations of the ordinance and UGLY!

Let me clarify what Jan was pointing out. The law is to prevent parking on the front lawn, not the driveway. If we are to interpret as you have than it would be illegal to even park a car in the driveway.

The law is intended to stop parking on the front lawn. If you paved it, good for you, but it's still illegal. Parking in your driveway is explicitly allowed. What this person has done is not.

See https://library.municode.com/HTML/13231/level4/COOR_PT12PLZOCO_TIT6ZO_CH1286FRYAPA.html
Pasted for your convenience.

1286.01. Definitions.permanent link to this piece of content

As used in this chapter:

Driveway means that space on a lot, not to exceed 12 feet in width, except where such space forms the apron to the entrance of a garage, specifically designated and used for the movement of motor vehicles, trailers and watercraft to or from the lot or to or from a public street.

Front yard means that space on a lot extending the full width of the lot and situated between the street line and front line of the main building on the lot. However, where a lot is located at the intersection of two or more streets, the front yard shall, in addition, include that space on the lot extending the full width or length of the lot and situated between the street line and side line of the main building on the lot.

Motor vehicle means any trackless, self-propelled vehicle, whether operable or not, and includes, but is not limited to, an automobile, bus, truck, pickup truck, truck tractor, van, wrecker or road construction or maintenance equipment or machinery.

Trailer means any contrivance without motive power designed for transporting property or persons and for being drawn by a motor vehicle.

Watercraft means any contrivance used or designated for navigation and the transport of persons or property on water and includes, but is not limited to, any boat, raft, vessel, canoe, ship, motor vessel, motorboat or rowboat.

(Ord. No. 373, 11-25-74; Ord. No. 406, 10-6-75)
1286.02. Prohibitions; exceptions.permanent link to this piece of content

In those districts described in Chapters 1248 through 1278, inclusive, and delineated upon the official Zoning Map established pursuant to Chapter 1246, no person shall park or place a motor vehicle, trailer or watercraft in a front yard. However, this section shall not apply:

(a)
To vehicles parked or placed in a driveway;
(b)
While engaged in actual loading or unloading;
(c)
Where permitted pursuant to any other provision of these Codified Ordinances;
(d)
Where parking areas were legally established by designating front yard parking on plot plans in connection with plans submitted for building permits which were issued prior to the effective date of this chapter (Ordinance 373, passed November 25, 1974);
(e)
Where prior to such effective date, parking areas were established in front yards as an accessory use to a lawful conforming use by the development of hard-surfaced parking areas; or
(f)
Where any person parking or placing any motor vehicle, trailer or watercraft in a front yard is handicapped and has been issued a valid certificate attesting thereto, pursuant to Public Act 300 of 1949, as amended (M.C.L.A. 257.1 et seq., as amended)
(Ord. No. 407, 10-6-75)

An apron is defined as a paved area for parking, It does go to his garage. Perhaps you want him to build a bigger garage to park the trailer in front of?

... not to exceed 12 feet in width, except where such space forms the apron to the entrance of a garage...
The added lane where the trailer is parked is NOT an 'apron to the entrance'. If that's all it took to avoid the statute than it would not be worth having.

Yes, the "codes" are guidelines, in fact they aren't "laws". We pay seasoned experienced officers to interpret them on a case by case basis. Overall guidelines, not an etched in stone, zero-tolerance policing of an individuals freedom to utilize their own property. Our entire society works this way, ask a judge. Surely we can agree that homeowners have some freedom or are we talking interment camps??
Many newly built properties include parking pads not by strict definition"an apron to the entrance". There are plenty of 100 year old, outmoded codes still on books all over the US. Just because it's still printed on paper doesn't mean they're enforced, that would be considered frivolous by any court. I shouldn't have to be saying this...we are all aware. Would it be suggested that billions be spent on researching the usefulness of each code that exists, researching it's validity as current , informing the public, voting sessions/city council, voting sessions/residents,and amended printing of all code manuals?? As a country we have traditionally implied that we grant discretionary decision making to those we've elected to do some tasks for us. City of Lansing Code Com. does this job for us well. I'm satisfied. My expectations are reasonable all things considered, or should I say all things considered by Code Com., I'll let them be to do their work.

I'd be thrilled if Code Compliance did their jobs. They don't even acknowledge these complaints. I'd be willing to bet most of the people parking on their lawns don't know it's illegal. Maybe if CC gave them a warning they would comply. All I want is a nice looking neighborhood. Is that to much to ask?

I understand that the laws are selectively enforced, talk to any black person.

I like your thoughts ERM. You're right many may not know about parking on lawns. Some were born well after the code was in place, and some were born well after the sub was built! This is a nice, quiet sub. Great for walking and biking. Lots of young families and an active neighborhood group(Facebook) You've got a really pleasant neighborhood to call home.Is this considered Lansing Township?

It is nice. I'd like to keep it that way, which is why I complain about the parking.
The north side of the river is Lansing, south side is Lansing Township. I have no idea how that came about.

Thanks for the clarification on the boundaries, always wondered how that worked.

if this was the only problem I had with neighbors I would be thrilled, this is what I deal with

What Dan said...

Doesn't anyone in city government read these posts?

Still ugly as ever.

still there.

Still there