Neighbor keeps parking in front of our house

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Streets are public property. There’s nothing you can do

Do you walk down the middle of the sidewalk and throw your shoulder into any oncoming pedestrians?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We spent 15 years living in some of the more urban areas of DC, where people would have laughed out loud at someone who suggested that no one park in front of their house. We moved to the burbs about 7 years ago, and I confess, I feel a quick twinge of irritation when someone parks in front of my house. But I quickly stamp it down, because IT'S FREAKIN' RIDICULOUS. Who cares?

Seriously, OP, why do you care? You already said it doesn't impact your life at all.

Absolute horsesh*t. I've lived in Capitol Hill and Old Town (SE quadrant no less) and everyone knows that the only way you take the spot in front of someon'es house is if there are literally no other spots available.

Like the Del Ray guy said- it is the height of rudeness to park in front of someone else's house and leave it there for a day or more. Taking up two spots would get your tires slashed in Boston.

The whole idea is to lessen the burden of lugging kids and groceries in and out of the house. If obeyed, everyone benefits. All the toys go back into their places.

That might work where there are large SF rowhouses and no multi-family housing, at least a few blocks form a commercial strip - maybe. I lived in Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights, close to apartments buildings, condos, retail and restaurants, and where there's no street parking during the working day on one side of the street. Even apart from the visitors to the area who park, there simply isn't one spot per residence on those streets, never mind multiple spots per residence. You park where you can, hope it isn't more than a half a block away, and do a little jog if you find a spot in front of your house.

Please try and keep up. Are you always this dense?

Rowhouses aren't SF houses. They are, by natur.e and name, ... part of a row of houses. Please, try to keep up.

Not quite. There are row houses in which a single family lives, and that would be a SFH. Then there are ones that are broken up into apartments, and those are not SFH. A house need not be detached from its neighbors to be a SFH—go to any college town and you will see huge old Victorians that are a warren of student apartments. They have multiple bathrooms and kitchens.

THe 'single' in SFH not only refers to a unit for one family but it refers to one unit existing on oits own. If there is another home attcahed to it, it isn't a single family home. At least not in the eyes of the mortage holder and insurer. Language matters.

No, that’s not correct. Either a house is a single family home or a multi-family home. Tell me you’re not a city-dweller without telling me you’re not a city-dweller.

Uhhhhh, wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We spent 15 years living in some of the more urban areas of DC, where people would have laughed out loud at someone who suggested that no one park in front of their house. We moved to the burbs about 7 years ago, and I confess, I feel a quick twinge of irritation when someone parks in front of my house. But I quickly stamp it down, because IT'S FREAKIN' RIDICULOUS. Who cares?

Seriously, OP, why do you care? You already said it doesn't impact your life at all.

Absolute horsesh*t. I've lived in Capitol Hill and Old Town (SE quadrant no less) and everyone knows that the only way you take the spot in front of someon'es house is if there are literally no other spots available.

Like the Del Ray guy said- it is the height of rudeness to park in front of someone else's house and leave it there for a day or more. Taking up two spots would get your tires slashed in Boston.

The whole idea is to lessen the burden of lugging kids and groceries in and out of the house. If obeyed, everyone benefits. All the toys go back into their places.

That might work where there are large SF rowhouses and no multi-family housing, at least a few blocks form a commercial strip - maybe. I lived in Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights, close to apartments buildings, condos, retail and restaurants, and where there's no street parking during the working day on one side of the street. Even apart from the visitors to the area who park, there simply isn't one spot per residence on those streets, never mind multiple spots per residence. You park where you can, hope it isn't more than a half a block away, and do a little jog if you find a spot in front of your house.

Please try and keep up. Are you always this dense?

Rowhouses aren't SF houses. They are, by natur.e and name, ... part of a row of houses. Please, try to keep up.

Not quite. There are row houses in which a single family lives, and that would be a SFH. Then there are ones that are broken up into apartments, and those are not SFH. A house need not be detached from its neighbors to be a SFH—go to any college town and you will see huge old Victorians that are a warren of student apartments. They have multiple bathrooms and kitchens.

THe 'single' in SFH not only refers to a unit for one family but it refers to one unit existing on oits own. If there is another home attcahed to it, it isn't a single family home. At least not in the eyes of the mortage holder and insurer. Language matters.

You're right that language matters. You're wrong on the definition. A single family home by any definition includes traditional row houses. Each row house sits on its own lot, which is separately owned in few simple. Plus, "in the eyes of the mortgage holder," single family housing includes up to four units on the property. Go read 12 CFR 1281.1.

A single-family home is a free-standing residential building. Single-family homes are designed to be used as a single-dwelling unit, with one owner, no shared walls, and its own land.

https://www.rocketmortgage.com/learn/single-family-home#:~:text=A%20single%2Dfamily%20home%20is%20a%20free%2Dstanding%20residential%20building,walls%2C%20and%20its%20own%20land.

Suck it.

[Anonymous]

Seems like two posters are arguing over different terms: "single family housing" versus "single family home".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ DP, but how does a car parked in front of my house limit accessibility to it? This is really a made up problem.

Do you have everything delivered? You must WFH daily.

Do you never go out to get groceries? Not have young kids? Some of us have to haul things to/from work. It's basic etiquette to park in front of your own home, and not others. If you have multiple cars, be mindful of others and don't be a street hog.

But the OP has a driveway! And it no one has a driveway, it’s public street parking! When I lived in AdMo I almost never got a spot right in front of my condo or even on my block. That’s life with no garage/driveway. I don’t understand why anyone feels entitled to a legal, public parking space.

In a neighborhood where street parking is a precious commodity, you park where you can.

But if you have a choice to park in front of your neighbor's house, your own house, or 15 feet away in front of no-one's house... you do not park in front of your neighbor's house. That's just rude, when there are other options.

And if you have multiple cars... time to downsize, especially if they are not frequently all gone at the same time.

As someone in a rowhouse with no private parking I agree with this but no one else seems to! We have one car for a family of four. Everyone else has one car for every resident old enough to drive, including high schoolers and retirees, and then work vans from the next block over park here frequently too, which REALLY annoys me when its over the weekend and doesn't move.

I don't mind parking down the street or on the other side, but whenever I have to unload sleeping kids or groceries and there's no parking on the block at all, I will park illegally to do that before finding a legal spot.

And yes of course I'd like a home with private parking, and was hoping to upgrade someday, but I also like not being house poor so it looks like that's not gonna happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish people weren’t allowed to park on the street. In my parents’ town you aren’t allowed on the street overnight.

Do they live in a sundown town?

It wasn't a sundown town but I grew up in an all white, Christian only neighborhood in the 1970s. The housing discrimination wasn't good but we enjoyed the wide open life with tons of kids, 1/4 acre lots without fences and no on-street parking allowed between 11pm and 6am. The kids OWNED the streets.

These days, I live in the close in MD suburbs and cars line every inch of the street. My neighbor parked in front of my house because that was what was available when he got home and I parked in front of his home because that was what was available when I got home. I'd like it better without cars but most houses don't have any off-street parking and people have more cars than when the neighborhood was laid out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ DP, but how does a car parked in front of my house limit accessibility to it? This is really a made up problem.

Do you have everything delivered? You must WFH daily.

Do you never go out to get groceries? Not have young kids? Some of us have to haul things to/from work. It's basic etiquette to park in front of your own home, and not others. If you have multiple cars, be mindful of others and don't be a street hog.

But the OP has a driveway! And it no one has a driveway, it’s public street parking! When I lived in AdMo I almost never got a spot right in front of my condo or even on my block. That’s life with no garage/driveway. I don’t understand why anyone feels entitled to a legal, public parking space.

In a neighborhood where street parking is a precious commodity, you park where you can.

But if you have a choice to park in front of your neighbor's house, your own house, or 15 feet away in front of no-one's house... you do not park in front of your neighbor's house. That's just rude, when there are other options.

And if you have multiple cars... time to downsize, especially if they are not frequently all gone at the same time.

As someone in a rowhouse with no private parking I agree with this but no one else seems to! We have one car for a family of four. Everyone else has one car for every resident old enough to drive, including high schoolers and retirees, and then work vans from the next block over park here frequently too, which REALLY annoys me when its over the weekend and doesn't move.

I don't mind parking down the street or on the other side, but whenever I have to unload sleeping kids or groceries and there's no parking on the block at all, I will park illegally to do that before finding a legal spot.

And yes of course I'd like a home with private parking, and was hoping to upgrade someday, but I also like not being house poor so it looks like that's not gonna happen.

In Alexandria, I report these cars to 311 all the time. Online, you don't need to put your info, and parking enforcement is actually pretty responsive.

Street parking is not for vehicle storage. If all your cars are moved and driven regularly, not a problem. But if you park your car for a week or more at a time, and you're not out of town, you're a jerk. Move to the burbs if you just want to hoard vehicles you don't need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ DP, but how does a car parked in front of my house limit accessibility to it? This is really a made up problem.

Do you have everything delivered? You must WFH daily.

Do you never go out to get groceries? Not have young kids? Some of us have to haul things to/from work. It's basic etiquette to park in front of your own home, and not others. If you have multiple cars, be mindful of others and don't be a street hog.

But the OP has a driveway! And it no one has a driveway, it’s public street parking! When I lived in AdMo I almost never got a spot right in front of my condo or even on my block. That’s life with no garage/driveway. I don’t understand why anyone feels entitled to a legal, public parking space.

In a neighborhood where street parking is a precious commodity, you park where you can.

But if you have a choice to park in front of your neighbor's house, your own house, or 15 feet away in front of no-one's house... you do not park in front of your neighbor's house. That's just rude, when there are other options.

And if you have multiple cars... time to downsize, especially if they are not frequently all gone at the same time.

As someone in a rowhouse with no private parking I agree with this but no one else seems to! We have one car for a family of four. Everyone else has one car for every resident old enough to drive, including high schoolers and retirees, and then work vans from the next block over park here frequently too, which REALLY annoys me when its over the weekend and doesn't move.

I don't mind parking down the street or on the other side, but whenever I have to unload sleeping kids or groceries and there's no parking on the block at all, I will park illegally to do that before finding a legal spot.

And yes of course I'd like a home with private parking, and was hoping to upgrade someday, but I also like not being house poor so it looks like that's not gonna happen.

In Alexandria, I report these cars to 311 all the time. Online, you don't need to put your info, and parking enforcement is actually pretty responsive.

Street parking is not for vehicle storage. If all your cars are moved and driven regularly, not a problem. But if you park your car for a week or more at a time, and you're not out of town, you're a jerk. Move to the burbs if you just want to hoard vehicles you don't need.

+1

NP and fellow Alexandrian. It's street parking only on my block and if your car isn't moved every day there is an old retired lunatic that has 311 on speed dial. Most people learn pretty quick.

[Anonymous]

Anyone have a polite way of bringing this up to a neighbor?

I'm tempted to just call parking enforcement. Truthfully, I don't understand how someone can be SO clueless to park in front of their neighbor's house for more than 2 days or so, on a constant basis. One neighbor has been parked in front of our rowhouse for probably 25 out of the past 30 days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ DP, but how does a car parked in front of my house limit accessibility to it? This is really a made up problem.

Do you have everything delivered? You must WFH daily.

Do you never go out to get groceries? Not have young kids? Some of us have to haul things to/from work. It's basic etiquette to park in front of your own home, and not others. If you have multiple cars, be mindful of others and don't be a street hog.

But the OP has a driveway! And it no one has a driveway, it’s public street parking! When I lived in AdMo I almost never got a spot right in front of my condo or even on my block. That’s life with no garage/driveway. I don’t understand why anyone feels entitled to a legal, public parking space.

In a neighborhood where street parking is a precious commodity, you park where you can.

But if you have a choice to park in front of your neighbor's house, your own house, or 15 feet away in front of no-one's house... you do not park in front of your neighbor's house. That's just rude, when there are other options.

And if you have multiple cars... time to downsize, especially if they are not frequently all gone at the same time.

As someone in a rowhouse with no private parking I agree with this but no one else seems to! We have one car for a family of four. Everyone else has one car for every resident old enough to drive, including high schoolers and retirees, and then work vans from the next block over park here frequently too, which REALLY annoys me when its over the weekend and doesn't move.

I don't mind parking down the street or on the other side, but whenever I have to unload sleeping kids or groceries and there's no parking on the block at all, I will park illegally to do that before finding a legal spot.

And yes of course I'd like a home with private parking, and was hoping to upgrade someday, but I also like not being house poor so it looks like that's not gonna happen.

In Alexandria, I report these cars to 311 all the time. Online, you don't need to put your info, and parking enforcement is actually pretty responsive.

Street parking is not for vehicle storage. If all your cars are moved and driven regularly, not a problem. But if you park your car for a week or more at a time, and you're not out of town, you're a jerk. Move to the burbs if you just want to hoard vehicles you don't need.

+1

NP and fellow Alexandrian. It's street parking only on my block and if your car isn't moved every day there is an old retired lunatic that has 311 on speed dial. Most people learn pretty quick.

I’m in old town and never have to dial 311 as there’s a busy body on the block who lives for this.
The most egregious use of street parking was a neighbor who bought an old, huge cargo van and used it for storage. She had it crammed full of kids stuff, Christmas stuff, etc. It took up more than a full parking space and she would rarely move it. I was so happy when her house came on the market.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ DP, but how does a car parked in front of my house limit accessibility to it? This is really a made up problem.

Do you have everything delivered? You must WFH daily.

Do you never go out to get groceries? Not have young kids? Some of us have to haul things to/from work. It's basic etiquette to park in front of your own home, and not others. If you have multiple cars, be mindful of others and don't be a street hog.

But the OP has a driveway! And it no one has a driveway, it’s public street parking! When I lived in AdMo I almost never got a spot right in front of my condo or even on my block. That’s life with no garage/driveway. I don’t understand why anyone feels entitled to a legal, public parking space.

In a neighborhood where street parking is a precious commodity, you park where you can.

But if you have a choice to park in front of your neighbor's house, your own house, or 15 feet away in front of no-one's house... you do not park in front of your neighbor's house. That's just rude, when there are other options.

And if you have multiple cars... time to downsize, especially if they are not frequently all gone at the same time.

As someone in a rowhouse with no private parking I agree with this but no one else seems to! We have one car for a family of four. Everyone else has one car for every resident old enough to drive, including high schoolers and retirees, and then work vans from the next block over park here frequently too, which REALLY annoys me when its over the weekend and doesn't move.

I don't mind parking down the street or on the other side, but whenever I have to unload sleeping kids or groceries and there's no parking on the block at all, I will park illegally to do that before finding a legal spot.

And yes of course I'd like a home with private parking, and was hoping to upgrade someday, but I also like not being house poor so it looks like that's not gonna happen.

In Alexandria, I report these cars to 311 all the time. Online, you don't need to put your info, and parking enforcement is actually pretty responsive.

Street parking is not for vehicle storage. If all your cars are moved and driven regularly, not a problem. But if you park your car for a week or more at a time, and you're not out of town, you're a jerk. Move to the burbs if you just want to hoard vehicles you don't need.

+1

NP and fellow Alexandrian. It's street parking only on my block and if your car isn't moved every day there is an old retired lunatic that has 311 on speed dial. Most people learn pretty quick.

Are you exaggerating? There is no law against parking for a day (provided your car stuff is up to date). Alexandria's rule is 72 non-holiday weekday hours, which is generous. If you move your car once a week, you should be fine. And if you're not moving your car once a week, you're the jerk neighbor.

[Anonymous]

I've got a neighbor's grown daughter's car parked in front of my house for day 9 now in Del Ray. It's only because I like the old lady that I haven't had it ticketed yet. I know the daughter is garbage. She's had three kids with three men. And she committed residency fraud for schooling with all three.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in a neighborhood with long driveways. Most houses have 2 car garages and drives that fit 6 cars. Our neighbors have a tendency of parking in front of our house. They usually park 2 or 3 cars in their driveway and 2 - 3 cars on the street in front of our house but don’t park any cars on the street on front of their house. We are new to this neighborhood. We actually don’t even know who our neighborhood are. In the 3 months we’ve lived here we have so many people in and out. I know that am being petty and can’t do anything about it because it’s street parking but it is annoying that they only park in front of our house. They are the people in the neighborhood who park on the street. Most people just utilize their driveways. Mostly I am just here to vent but also welcome any non confrontational way of addressing this.

Sounds like you can't handle living on a public street. Move to an HOA that bans street parking.

Seriously. And there are already 7,000 threads here on parking in front of houses. you don't own the street.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP we lived in a nice neighborhood in NW. all of the houses on our street had 2 car garages and driveways. We had a strange tiny 1920s garage that was too low for my car but the neighbors had an addition with a big, new garage and driveway. I had 3 kids 3 and under so really wanted to park close to our steps. Well the au pair from next door parked in front of our steps all of the time. I finally asked her if there was any way she could park in front of her house or in their driveway. She told me that her bosses wouldn’t let her bc her car (which was theirs) was too old and dumpy, they didn’t want it in front of their house.These were big detached houses and because of the curb cuts, I had to park in front of their house and get 2 babies who couldn’t walk yet and a toddler to our steps bc apparently the jerks thought my car was more presentable than the one they had the au pair drive their kid in. Some people are just weird.

I think there is an element of this too. One of the cars they park in front of our house is a work van meanwhile they always park their luxury cars in their driveway.

It's the WORK van. You have hit it. They don't want that out front.

Move your cars out of your driveway and park them, space out, in front of your own house.
One of our suburban neighbors keeps his driveway open all the time, while parking a huge mini van and giant work pickup truck in front of others' homes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone have a polite way of bringing this up to a neighbor?

I'm tempted to just call parking enforcement. Truthfully, I don't understand how someone can be SO clueless to park in front of their neighbor's house for more than 2 days or so, on a constant basis. One neighbor has been parked in front of our rowhouse for probably 25 out of the past 30 days.

What's parking enforcement going to do? I'm sure the code doesn't say "don't park in front of your neighbor's house"; what does it actually say?