FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 23, 2025

City Code Revised to Prohibit Overnight Parking of Certain Large Vehicles

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA –  Charlottesville City Council, in an effort to reestablish public parking for the active use of vehicle turnover and not the long-term storage of personal property, has approved the revision of Section 15-144 of the Code of the City of Charlottesville. Under the newly revised code, storage of boats, recreational vehicles, antique vehicles, farm use vehicles, buses or vans (over 12-person capacity), or any vehicle or trailer with more than two wheels per axle will be prohibited from parking overnight on city streets. Additionally, tarping a vehicle on a city street and service stations parking vehicles awaiting work to be done, will no longer be allowed to park on city streets.

The fully revised section is provided below:

• Sec. 15-144. Parking of restricted vehicles
  • No vehicle or trailer listed below shall be parked on any of the public streets of the City between the hours of midnight and 6:00 AM, however this section shall not apply to a vehicle that has obtained a parking permit from the City
  • Semi-truck or semi-trailer, as defined by Virginia Code § 46.2-1500
  • Bus or van designed to carry more than 12 twelve passengers (city school buses and vans excepted)
  • Vehicle with antique license plate
  • Vehicle with F-tag license plate or Farm Use placard
  • Boat
  • Recreational vehicle (as defined by City Code § 34-1200) or Trailer (as defined by Virginia Code § 46.2-1500) in excess of 20 feet in length
  • Any vehicle or trailer with more than two wheels per axle
• No vehicle or trailer parked on a public street of the City shall be covered with a tarp or cover that restricts inspection of the vehicle’s or trailer’s license plate or state inspection decal.
• It shall be unlawful for any person, business, or corporation to perform service or repairs on a vehicle parked on a public street within the City, or to store or park on any public street, any motor vehicle left in the custody of any business; provided however, that this section shall not apply to:
  • emergency service or repairs;
  • vehicle owners performing minor service or repairs on their respective vehicles otherwise legally parked and operative; or
  • the accommodation for the immediate transfer, exchange, or removal of a vehicle to or from a garage, repair shop, service station, or parking facility.

Charlottesville Police Department will begin working with complainants and vehicle owners to ensure that reasonable steps are taken to gain voluntary compliance before enforcement action is taken.

Media Contact
Afton Schneider
Director of Communications & Public Engagement
City of Charlottesville
434-996-0331
schneidera@charlottesville.gov