Parking a vehicle on grass is a controversial topic, not only in Lennox but in many towns, Parking has several implications for a property and your neighbors. Below is the wording of City of Lennox’s zoning ordinance requiring all parking spaces to be hard surfaced.
City Zoning Ordinance 13.04.A.4 All required parking spaces, and access drives thereto shall be hard surfaced with concrete, asphalt, pavers or other like durable material not including loose stone or gravel. In the LI and HI Districts, a gravel surface may be used for portions of the site that are intended for the storage of construction equipment and/or supplies, and milled asphalt may be used for all parking and driving surfaces not including the driveway approach. Any gravel surface must be adequately maintained to provide a dust-free surface and adequate drainage.
Common push back to “parking on grass” ordinances include “it is my property; I can do what I want” or something similar. While this is a legitimate concern, and we want to be respectful of private property rights, the consideration and appearance of the community at large must be taken into consideration. Below are some reasons why parking on a hard surface such as concrete, asphalt, or gravel (if grandfathered in), is included in most town’s ordinances, big or small:
1. First, parking a vehicle on grass can damage the grass and soil, especially if the vehicle is heavy or remains parked for an extended period. This can have environmental consequences, such as soil compaction, reduced water infiltration, and increased runoff. The weight of vehicles can compact the soil, leading to soil erosion and loss of grass. Since we experience South Dakota winters, a good number of citizens drive SUV’s or trucks, which are heavier than a typical sedan. This is especially true during the wetter parts of the year, like spring or fall.
2. Second, parking a vehicle on grass can impact your yard’s appearance if it damages the grass and leaves bare spots in the lawn. Left untreated, weeds will grow where there used to be grass. While one neighbor may find parking on grass acceptable, another neighbor may consider it a visual blight impacting the attractiveness and value of their own property.
3. Third, if a vehicle is regularly parked on the grass, maintenance and upkeep of the lawn is more difficult to complete if you have to mow around the vehicle or move it just to mow where the vehicle used to be parked.
4. Fourth, consideration of your neighbor must be given. While subjective, parking a vehicle on your front lawn can be considered unsightly and could affect neighboring property values. While personal property rights are important, so are your neighbor's rights.
Most towns of any size in South Dakota have a similar ordinance in place. After searching nearby towns on their websites, most have similar wording to having hard surface requirements for parking. Tea, Hartford, Lennox, Viborg, Canton, and Harrisburg are just a few towns in our area with this ordinance in place.
If you have any questions or concerns about Lennox’s hard surface parking ordinance, please reach out to City Hall at (605) 647-2286.