Introduction
Austin is among a minority of major cities in the U.S. which allows
residents to park vehicles in their front lawn. This website is part
of an effort by several concerned neighborhood groups to have the
City of Austin enact an ordinance banning such activities. Its purpose
is to provide up-to-date information on the status of the ordinance,
answer frequently asked questions, and provide contact information
for concerned citizens to get involved.
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"It is a uniquely American definition of poverty to own so many cars that you must park some on your front
lawn."
-- Elloa Mathews, SRCC
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Meetings/Upcoming Events 
On August 29, 2002, the ordinance PASSED on its final reading by a 5-to-2 margin, with Council Members Alvarez and Slusher opposed. The ordinance goes into effect September 9th only for those neighborhoods listed in Exhibit A of the final draft of the ordinance. No other neighborhoods are covered by the ordinance. If your neighborhood is covered and you wish to file a complaint for a vehicle you believe is not in compliance, contact your District Representative or call 311, APD's nonemergency number. Please refer to Part 1, subsections (A)-(C), of the final draft to determine whether the vehicle is in compliance. In particular, note that subsubsection C(3) allows you to park in any unpaved area adjacent to a driveway that, including the driveway itself, is up to half the width of your lot!
There are two important changes in the final draft of which neighborhood representatives should be aware. First, there is a sunset provision whereby a neighborhood must renew its request to opt in every three years or else be dropped from coverage [Sec. 16-5-22, Part 1(E)]. (Our thanks to Council Member Jackie Goodman for adding this rather inconvenient amendment.) Second, those neighborhoods which are currently listed in Exhibit A will be covered only until April of next year unless they submit the standard documentation listed in Sec. 16-5-22, Part 6, by February verifying the authenticity of their request to opt in and providing related information [Sec. 16-5-22, Part 3]. (This is, in fact, the standard procedure for opting in for the first time or renewing your opt in status every three years.)
| Meetings/Events |
Date |
Time |
Location |
Address |
Notes |
| City Council Meeting |
8/29/02 |
2-4 pm |
Hancock Building at LCRA Complex |
3700 Lake Austin Blvd. |
PASSED on 3rd reading
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City Council Contact List
Austin City Connection (Official Website of the City of Austin)
Please send a courtesy copy of letters to the City Council to Brian R. La Cour so that we may update our list of supporters.
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