Project truck storage: City at your Throat?

[John Gilbert]

I just got a letter from the city I live in telling me that anything I want to do with an old vehicle has to be done inside my garage only. This includes storage of parts and complete vehicles. It gets a lot uglier, but you guys get the picture.

I was wondering especially if you're a California resident if one of you guys has been running into this kind of stuff?

I was in meeting last week with Colby Martin at SEMA and there is a model for a statewide (any state) bill that would make it law vehicles only had to be out of normal public view.

There are some lucky states where the SEMA model is already law. Before they force everyone to scrap our good rust free California tin we need to get this model in place.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

[69GWC]

I moved out of town because of stuff just like this, I have 15 acres and can do about what ever I want now.

Honestly I do not want one thing to do with people like that and think they need to get a life and not worry about a old truck in the drive way of the house next door and 'if' the guy might change his oil in view of the public..
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[John Gilbert]

Originally Posted by 69GWC

I moved out of town because of stuff just like this, I have 15 acres and can do about what ever I want now.

Honestly I do not want one thing to do with people like that and think they need to get a life and not worry about a old truck in the drive way of the house next door and 'if' the guy might change his oil in view of the public..
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Yeah, I hear you. The unfortunate part is a guy can live in the middle of nowhere and end up facing this grim reality. While I was the editor of Custom Classic Trucks, I got an email from a guy in the UP of Wisconsin, with a stash of C10s miles away from public view, and the authorities in his area were after him big time. This kind of thing can stem from a nosy neighbor, to a land grab, you never know.

Thanks for your input!

[Bishops Trucks]

Why can't people just mind their own business? To many people worry about other peoples lives. I will be getting a new next door neighbor soon, I sure hope they aren't the nosey get in everyones business kinda people.

[69GWC]

Well iam pretty lucky as you cant even see my house from the road let alone any of my stuff.

But it is sad that people are trying to get laws like this passed, I moved because the city would not let me keep my car trailer on my property that was the last straw.

How about not letting you have your trash cans out in site of the public even on trash day..lol all kinds of dumb rules in town anymore.
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[longhorn70gmc]

Currently,
I personally am not having this issue on that level with the city yet. I move all three of my junks (trucks) around on a monthly bases to keep the city at bay. The laws are getting tougher and tighter in my area as well. I live by a hoarding junk man millionaire, so I get some of his heat about him sometimes when the city officials stop by. My issue right now is the neighbor beside me; she does not like my two halfed trailored 1968 Chevy trucks that I am building and has made comments to my Boss about it, but yet has yet to go to the city about them. Prior owner cut them up; I am just trying to make one for myself and save the other. I am like a MacGyver with junk (our trucks).
My opinion is just this, I bought this house and property and I like old trucks or anything of that nature, so if I want to have it I will, but with that being said I do not allow my yard to get trashed, example would be mounds of trash or 4 or 5 vehicles just sitting around all busted up or have the look of serious long term neglect or allow vehicles to sit for too long in one spot.
My intent here with my trucks in the near future is to purchase about 5 acres in the county, build me a 4 truck, two side by side deep building and no one will be able to be nosy or have anything to complain about. The city should be thankful I enjoy my old truck hobby and stay at home every day doing it; at least I am not out drinking and driving and doing illegal things, plus I do them a favor by buying and selling some of these things, they get moved that way. Also, I absolutely do not support and never will these so called California home owner associations either. I apologize to anyone if I have offended, all this is this man’s opinions and way I live my life. I feel you and it is too bad you can't enjoy your hobby/ideals of rebuilding an old truck. Good luck with your rebuild and enjoy our hobby; Great Thread!
R/
Billy

[Billett]

I hate stories like this. People need to mind their own business. I can understand some situations. If a guy has scrap metal all over the yard it can devalue a neighbors property, but a project car or two shouldn't be a big deal...

[blue 72 gmc 4x4]

Just move here, the county will send you letters and what not but they don't do ****. My neighbor's house is a dump that is halfway painted turquoise and the elk always hang out in his yard because they think the place is abandoned. In fact the abandoned house in my neighborhood looks better than his place! There's a 69' GMC that has been sittin in a guys yard here that I love looking at! But some of these laws that they are coming up with are complete BS!! If its a project thats getting worked on leave the dude alone....But yeah california does have some bull**** laws, especially at the sand dunes.

[pritch]

Find out who the stone-throwers are and make sure they don't live in glass houses. They usually do.

[Boog]

I hear ya John. It's just a matter of time I believe before our newest neighbors will tire of the ugly hedge row between us and have it cut down giving them a full view of my property. I have 2 campers, a fishing rig, a truck van body for storage and the 69 stepside bed you see in my avatar all outside in plain view. The neighborhood I speak of is a highend ritzy gated one so you can imagine who will lose the battle when it starts. I'm old enough I shouldn't have to consider moving again just because of the neighbors who moved in way after I bought my place and don't like the looks of it.

[Billett]

I live out in the middle of nowhere and it still happens. A new family moved in caddy corner to us (neighbor 1) and tried to get my other neighbor to pay to put in a row of trees because his goats were bothering their view. They bought a house facing his pens! He did clean up the pens a lot, but didn't have to pay for the trees. Neighbor number 2 over there moved in about 3 years ago. My parents built our house in 1990. Their driveway faces the other road, but the front of their house with a huge 2 story window and deck faces our backyard. They complained that we were causing noise issues because we ride dirt bikes and quads. My brother and our neighbor to the right have been riding in a league for 5 years now and we've been doing it for recreation since I was born. That complain was completely ignored by the mayor because her farm is half a mile down the road and they do the same thing haha

[MusicMan70]

Wow! I didn't realize Placentia was that strict. I had a neighbor complain to the city about a truck I was rebuilding the front end on; in my driveway(took about three months and it was covered). Saw the the City Code guy walk up and check to see the truck was currently registered. Nothing ever came of it.

All my vehicles are currently registered and insured. I do have a few, but they're only eyesores to my wife. Gotta sell one of them though(Riviera)

Still, what a shame you have that to deal with that issue, People need to be more tolerant.

[Boog]

Listen to this. A hog farmer on his long time famiy owned land has to shut down his hog farm when the land across the road is developed and the new neighbors complain about the smell. He and his hogs were there long before the neighbors so he should be allowed to keep the hogs I would think. If I were to move in next to a sess pond could I complain and make the city shut it down? It's the same thing really..
There are idiots writing the laws in every state of the nation. Absolute idiots.

[Mister-B]

Originally Posted by Boog

Listen to this. A hog farmer on his long time famiy owned land has to shut down his hog farm when the land across the road is developed and the new neighbors complain about the smell. He and his hogs were there long before the neighbors so he should be allowed to keep the hogs I would think. If I were to move in next to a sess pond could I complain and make the city shut it down? It's the same thing really..
There are idiots writing the laws in every state of the nation. Absolute idiots.

Doesn't sound right. Maybe he should beat them at their own Game. Just dig in and not give in. Eventually they might end up paying him some huge cash to sell. Enough to retire to a more tolerant area
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[prostreetC-10]

LOL....ya'll are a bunch of true rednecks!! I know it's a touchy subject. I also know the city has to be careful or certain, somewhat nice neighborhoods would just turn to sheet in a hurry. I certainly wouldn't want to drive home each day and see a bunch of crap laying around everyones yards and driveways making the place look like Sanford and Sons.

Now before you go and get your panties in a bunch, I think it's perfectly fine that people do whatever they want to do as long as everyone is in agreement and you are playing by the city ordinace rules. I live in a neighborhood where you can't even park on the street in front of your house. You damn sure can't have non-running vehicles all over the place either. It's about property values and that's the way I want it. Heck....I don't even mow my own front lawn and I'm about as redneck as it gets. I chose that and people should be able to do what they want as long as it's not causings the neighborhood to become something that the people living there don't want. I'm trying to be careful with my words because there are good arguements on each side.

[RManson]

I'd be moving everything I owned behind a fence and bringing my neighbors pies and such. Seriously though, this is the one thing almost every car/truck guy is afraid of. Since moving out of my shop and into the 'burbs, I'm paranoid everytime my air compressor runs for more than 5-10 mins. First thing I did in our house was to put up a gate in front of the driveway, outta sight, outta mind I figured. Let me know if you need any help John!

[leddzepp]

I can see both points of view on the matter. I live in so cal, and although I am not in a homeowners association neighborhood, there are city ordinances against inoperative vehicles parked in the street (for an extended period of time, which as a homeowner I am in total agreement with). You can have an inoperative vehicle in your driveway indefinitely (where I live) and I do not have a problem with that either. At times there can be some eyesores, but more often than not there are classic vehicles of all makes and models where someone is holding on to them and restoring them slowly but surely. I like it, and see it as freedom being exercised, along with responsibility. There are places here where you cannot even have the hood up and work on your car in the driveway. I do NOT agree with this at all (which is why I live in this neighborhood). Unfortunately, some folks have no sense of responsibility, parking their Pinto or Escort on the front lawn, leaking oil and weeds engulfing it. This is why laws and ordinances come out. The few ruin it for the many.

John, is this the 68 you picked up here in the orange groves behind my house? I am sorry to hear about your problems with the city.
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[prostreetC-10]

LEDDZEPP......Much better put than I and yet that was the message I was trying to convey. There is such a grey area where some just take it too far and basically create junk yards in front of their houses.

[72LSK10]

Back in June/July I had a city ordinance Inspector come out and made me put my 72 K10 and 72 Nova SS back together within a month. Frames and 100 plus other pieces where out to powder coat at the time. I have a neighbor(s) that have been calling the cops and fire dep on me like crazy. Come to find out, they had been calling the city for months, as the inspector told me. He'd come out to my property (all of my toys are in my back yard, can't see jack from the street cause my gate blocks the view). They finally got mad cause the city would do nothing so "They" reported me as having a chop shop, this did not go over very well. Cops raided the pad while I was at work. I had my car, my truck, a complete 70 C-10 and half of another Nova completely taken apart throught my back yard.
I was given 1 month to clean up and put the toys together, what a mess. the inspector was really cool, considering that he had a job to do, he gave me a two week extension. He told me that the only things I am able to do in a "bedroom comunity" is pretty much what's done at jiffy lube, oil changes, tire rotations, minor stuff. No pulling of motors, tranies, head jobs, rear ends etc. During my clean up, cops and fire dep were called on me again for having an illegal paint booth, I was spraying some undercoating, fire dep guys were in aw when they got to the pad and saw what I was working on. The chief told me to continue with my work and not mind the pita neighbor. I have been on down status since my case got closed. Now I have to work out of my parents back yard and other friends yards. It bites because I have my big compressor, welders and all my tool at the pad, not theirs About two months later, the other neighbor, who were actually running shops from their properties got busted, now they think I rated them out cause I was stoped from working on my first car and first truck, wth????

[RManson]

Well put leddzepp. I keep my car/truck/motorcycle jones outta sight, yet it's the next door neighbor who washes his BMW on the lawn. Really?!

[RManson]

Where in Long Beach?

[Gary's67]

I live in Lakewood California and have had my own experience with this, found all it takes is one nieghbor to ruin your day. About a year ago I was doing an engine swap on the old truck in the backyard, completely out of sight from the street. The nieghbor had to have looked over my block wall to see it. (we've had our issues before with this guy). But he called the city saying it was an eye sore. City man comes out and luckily gave me a warning saying I could be fined for working on my vehicle in my own back yard, crazy! I was givin a time frame of one month to get the truck on the road and had to contact the city to come out and sign off that the vehicle was road worthy when finished.
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[jeffahart]

Califronia does not want any old cars. They don't want any auto repair shops either. They want everyone to have a newer car and take it to the dealer for service. Or take the Bus(which is what they really want everyone to do, except themselves).

I usually only have on project at a time and keep things pretty clean and picked up and have not had any trouble. I pulled an engine and wheeled it into my garage. Who could gripe about that.

But, I have stopped the idea of doing a frame off resto because I would have to have frame in driveway. And I don't want the hassle. So I'm kind of stopped before I even start on how I really approach my projects. Minimal body work and no painting.

I really want to get out of Calif.

[RManson]

That may be true, except for this..

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...,5690015.story

Seems they like old cars, so long as they make the state money...

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by prostreetC-10

LEDDZEPP......Much better put than I and yet that was the message I was trying to convey. There is such a grey area where some just take it too far and basically create junk yards in front of their houses.

After reading your post, I am inclined to say the same My wife and I have an agreement: I do not turn into Fred Sanford, and she does not turn into Imelda Marcos.

Originally Posted by RManson

Well put leddzepp. I keep my car/truck/motorcycle jones outta sight, yet it's the next door neighbor who washes his BMW on the lawn. Really?!

Ridiculous, isn't it?! Unfortunately, you can't control the neighbor factor...which is the root problem in most folks' cases it seems. At least he is watering his lawn

Originally Posted by jeffahart

Califronia does not want any old cars. They don't want any auto repair shops either. They want everyone to have a newer car and take it to the dealer for service. Or take the Bus(which is what they really want everyone to do, except themselves).

I usually only have on project at a time and keep things pretty clean and picked up and have not had any trouble. I pulled an engine and wheeled it into my garage. Who could gripe about that.

But, I have stopped the idea of doing a frame off resto because I would have to have frame in driveway. And I don't want the hassle. So I'm kind of stopped before I even start on how I really approach my projects. Minimal body work and no painting.

I really want to get out of Calif.

I agree with you...but look at the bright side. If you are required to keep your stuff in the garage out of sight, that lessens the chance of something being stolen. And that is a problem that exists no matter where you live.

This is a good thread...lots of good posts and opinions. Common sense is on the comeback