The City of Oak Ridge recently updated junked vehicle ordinances and has scheduled implementation in 2020.
There will be a grace period in January and February to inform residents of the ordinance changes, a press release said. Written warnings will be provided during the grace period—before violation notices are issued—until March 1, 2020. After that, written warnings will no longer be given prior to a violation notice, the press release said.
“The changes to this ordinance now provide greater clarity for property owners and city staff regarding what constitutes an unlawful vehicle,” the press release said. “Additionally, the changes will help reduce blighted conditions, improve quality of life in the neighborhoods, and enhance effective enforcement by city departments.”
Under the updated ordinance, vehicles declared as junked, abandoned, inoperable, or a public nuisance will be removed from public or private property if not addressed by the owner in an allotted amount of time, the press release said. Removal by the city, if necessary, will be at the owner’s expense, the release said.
The time periods for compliance have been amended as follows:
- Private property—seven days (down from 10 days)
- On-street parking violations—three days (down from 10 days)
- Parkland and public property (unless otherwise posted)—48 hours
Any vehicle confined within a completely enclosed structure (like a garage) is exempt from the ordinance, the press release said. Vehicles legally parked and stored in clean, safe conditions on private property are also exempt from the ordinance, unless the vehicle is being used for salvage, constitutes a hazard, or is deemed to be a public nuisance.
The full ordinance is available to view on the city’s website at bit.ly/Ordinance24-2019. Questions about the updates can be directed to the Oak Ridge Codes Enforcement Office at (865) 425-3532 or the Oak Ridge Police Department at (865) 425-3512 during regular business hours.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
You can contact John Huotari, owner and publisher of Oak Ridge Today, at (865) 951-9692 or john.huotari@oakridgetoday.com.
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