2372ORDINANCE NO. 2372
AN ORDINANCE REPEALING CHAPTER 8.50 OF THE MOSES LAKE MUNICIPAL
CODE ENTITLED "RESIDENTIAL VEHICLE STORAGE" AND ADOPTING CHAPTER
8.52 OF THE MOSES LAKE MUNICIPAL CODE ENTITLED "RESIDENTIAL VEHICLE
STORAGE"
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOSES LAKE, WASHINGTON ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Chapter 8.50 of the Moses Lake Municipal Code entitled "Residential Vehicle Storage*" is
repealed.
Section 2. Chapter 8.52 of the Moses Lake Municipal Code entitled "Residential Vehicle Storage" is adopted
as follows:
8.52.010 Purpose: The purpose of this chapter is to preserve the character and safety of the city's
neighborhoods by eliminating improperly stored vehicles which may be characterized as
nuisances.
8.52.020 Definitions: For the purposes of this chapter the following words shall have the following
meanings:
A. "Designated Driveway" means the clearly defined roadway leading from the street that is
surfaced by asphalt, concrete, gravel, bricks, pavers, or similar material not to exceed thirty
feet (30') in width, or otherwise as shown on approved site plans. Where there is curb and
gutter at the street, the driveway must have an approved curb cut.
• B. "Front yard" means the area as defined in Moses Lake Municipal Code 18.06.630.
C."Improved Parking Surface" means a parking surface such as concrete, asphalt, pavers, brick
or other similar surface. Gravel or crushed rock may be used in the side or rear yards, but not
in the front yard. The parking surface shall be continuous from a designated driveway.
Material used for the improved parking surface shall be a minimum of two inches (2") in
thickness and shall be at least the same area as the drip edge of the vehicle.
D."Inoperable Vehicle" means a vehicle as defined in subsection I except that it is not licensed
or does not operate in the manner it was intended.
E."Junk Vehicle" means a vehicle certified under RCW 46.55.230 as meeting at least three (3)
of the following requirements: Is three (3) years old or older; is extensively damaged, such
damage including but not limited to any of the following: a broken window or windshield, or
missing wheels, tires, motor, or transmission; is apparently inoperable; has an approximate
fair market value equal only to the approximate value of the scrap in it.
F."Owner" means any person owning property as shown on the real property records of Grant
County or on the last assessment roll for taxes, and shall also mean any lessee, tenant, or
other person having control or possession of the property.
G."Property" means land and all buildings and structures located thereon.
H. "Recreational Vehicle" means a vehicular type unit primarily designed as temporary living
quarters for recreational, camping, travel, or seasonal use that either has its own power or is
mounted on, or towed by, another vehicle. Recreational vehicles include, but are not limited • to, camping trailers, fifth-wheel trailers, motor homes, travel trailers, and truck campers.
ORDINANCE NO. 2372
PAGE 2 February 12, 2008
I."Vehicle" means a currently licensed motorized or non-motorized conveyance that includes,
but is not limited to an automobile, car, truck, camper, motorcycle, trailered boat, trailered
personal water-craft, trailered snowmobile, or recreational vehicle, trailer of any type in
operable condition, and may or may not be intended for use on public roadways or waterways.
J."Vacant Property" means any lot, tract, or tax identification parcel which lacks any habitable
structures.
8.52.030 Vehicles: Operating a vehicle-oriented business is prohibited except for businesses with a
current city business license specifically issued for vehicle storage, repair, or sales. The property
owner shall ultimately be responsible for maintaining the property in compliance with this chapter.
8.52.040 Storage of Certain Vehicles and Components: Storage of vehicles on residential properties (R-1,
R-2, and R-3) shall be allowed as follows:
A. Vehicles may be kept or located in or under any lawfully permitted building such as a garage,
carport, or an enclosed and properly licensed utility or cargo type trailer so long as the utility
or cargo type trailer is parked properly under the requirements of this chapter.
B. Vehicles may be parked or stored outside on an improved parking surface or designated
driveway provided they are stored in the following manner:
1.Vehicles such as cars, pick-up trucks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, trailered
vehicles, trailered boats, or one enclosed utility or cargo type trailer with dimensions of no
more than six feet (6') wide by twelve feet (12') long, that are licensed for use on public
roads may be parked in a front yard only on an approved designated driveway or on a city
approved surface parallel to a designated driveway. A trailer other than an enclosed utility
or cargo type trailer attached to a car or pickup truck may be temporarily parked for a
period of twenty-four (24) hours in a front yard as set forth in the ordinance so long as it
remains attached to the car or pickup truck. All other allowed vehicles must be parked in
a side or rear yard;
2.Vehicles parked in a side yard or in a rear yard shall be parked on an improved parking
surface.
3.Up to three (3) vehicles such as recreational vehicles, enclosed utility or cargo type trailers
with dimensions of no more than six feet (6') wide by twelve feet (12') long, trailered boats,
any other trailers, whether loaded or unloaded, may be parked or stored regardless of
whether they are stored on a designated driveway, on an improved parking surface
parallel to a designated driveway, or on the side or rear yards on an improved parking
surface provided that only one (1) type of each vehicle is allowed on any one (1) piece of
property.
C. Any and all trailers, loaded or unloaded, except as otherwise allowed in this chapter, or
vehicles that are not licensed for use on public roads, may be stored only in a side yard or
rear yard of the property on an improved parking surface.
D. Inoperable vehicles outside a structure that are entirely intact, not considered a junk vehicle
nor a public nuisance, shall not be stored on property for a period exceeding thirty (30) days.
Working on such vehicles shall comply with MLMC 8.50.050.
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E. Commercial vehicles over one ton or semi-tractors and/or semi-tractor trailer combinations
shall not be parked, deliveries excepted, or stored on any residential property unless
otherwise allowed by law. •
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PAGE 3 February 12, 2008
G. Vehicles used in a demolition derby may be stored or parked only in totally enclosed,
permitted structures.
8.52.050 Vehicle and Equipment Repair on Residential Premises: All servicing, repairing, assembling,
wrecking, modifying, restoring, or otherwise working on any vehicle on any residential premises
shall be subject to the following terms:
A.Work shall be limited to the repair and maintenance of vehicles, equipment, or other
conveyance currently registered as specified in the Washington Vehicle Code to the occupant
or a member of the occupant's family. This limitation precludes auto repair on residential
premises by any commercial entity.
B.Work on inoperable vehicles shall be limited to no more than one (1) vehicle at any one time.
C.Work shall only take place within an enclosed structure or in an area screened from public
view, except that minor servicing, repairing, or otherwise working on a vehicle may be
performed outside an enclosed structure or in an area screened from public view so long as
the vehicle is parked on a designated driveway or improved parking surface.
D.Work shall take place only after the hour of seven (7) a.m. and before the hour of ten (10)
P. m.
E.Work shall not take place in a public right-of-way.
F.Parts, equipment, or other supplies shall be kept within an enclosed structure or in an area
that is screened from public view and shall be kept in a manner that is not a violation of MLMC
Chapter 8.14.
G.No work or condition shall create a nuisance as defined in MLMC Chapter 8.14.
H.Upon completion of all work allowed by this section, the owner shall clean the property of all
debris, oil, grease, gasoline, cloths, rags, equipment, and material used in the work and shall
leave the property in such a condition that no hazard to persons or property remain.
I.The owner shall dispose of all waste products in accordance with Chapter 19.114 RCW.
8.52.060 Special Permit: Recognizing there may be circumstances that exist for an owner which exceeds
the requirements of this ordinance, the City Council may issue a special permit allowing a
variance from the requirements set forth by this ordinance. If the Council grants a request for a
special permit, it shall be issued to the owner, as defined in this chapter, and shall not be
transferable to other parties or properties and may be revoked at any time the criteria are no
longer met. In the granting of the variance for the special permit, the Council shall find that the
following criteria have been met:
A.The vehicles do not violate any other sections of the Moses Lake Municipal Code.
B.Vehicles are appropriately licensed, operable and in good repair.
C.Vehicles are registered to the owner.
D.The grant of the special permit does not impair the health, welfare, character, or safety of the
neighborhood.
8.52. 070 Enforcement: Violations of this chapter shall be enforced in the same manner as violations of
Chapter 8.14.
Adopted by the City Council and signed by its Mayor on February 12, 2008.
Ronald Covey,
ATTEST:
AF7 VED AS TO FORM:
ames A. W itaker, City Atto
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PAGE 4 February 12, 2008
Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force five (5) days after its passage and publication of
its summary as provided by law.•
nald R. Cone, Finance Director
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