Newmarket council passes new recreation vehicle rules

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 8, 2015
By Chris Simon

Newmarket has relaxed its rules around recreational vehicle parking.

Council loosened the zoning bylaw rules for the parking of the vehicles in residential driveways Monday night.

Now, vehicles such as campers, boats, personal watercraft and snowmobiles would be permitted to park in driveways for eight days per month. Owners will also be required to leave a one-metre setback from the edge of the sidewalk or curb.

“It’s going to allow for larger vehicles in driveways,” Regional Councillor John Taylor said, stressing provisions will be enforced on a complaint basis. “In many ways, we’re doubling the permissiveness of what we had before. You have more ability to store your vehicle than you did before. Hopefully, we’ve reached a reasonable compromise.”

Previous rules allowed a property owner to park one recreational vehicle, less than seven metres long, in their driveway for a maximum of 72 hours in any one calendar month.

Recreational vehicles can also be stored inside a garage, carport or in a side yard, for any length of time, all year long.

Councillors want to drop the prevision on length, since most newer model trailers exceed the seven metres mentioned in the bylaw.

“It’s on your property, you should be able to have it there,” Councillor Jane Twinney said, noting she’s in favour of implementing a seasonal parking policy.

“There are a lot of people in favour of having their vehicle there when they’re using it. You’re not storing it; you’re parking it and going on vacation at various times in that season. There are other issues with regards to property standards that are of greater concern - people who have garbage around their property or don’t cut their grass” for example.