On September 20, the City of Goleta will start enforcing its oversized vehicle ordinance. Passed by the City Council in March, the ordinance stipulates that oversized vehicles — defined as any vehicle that is longer than 25 feet, wider than 80 inches, or taller than 82 inches — can no longer park on city streets Monday-Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Vehicles with handicapped permits and those that are being loaded and unloaded as well as emergency vehicles and commercial commuter vehicles are exempted from the ordinance.
According to Greg Nordyke, Goleta’s code enforcement officer, once the ordinance goes into effect, people can apply for no-fee permits — which would be valid between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday-Friday — for loading and unloading purposes . One permit allows for parking for two periods of up to three days — which, Nordyke said, would be useful in the case of packing three days prior to a trip and then unpacking three days following a trip. Permits are not unlimited, though, Nordyke cautioned, explaining that people can only apply for 12 permits a year.
Residents will also be allowed to park their vehicles on city streets during the off hours and on weekends and federal holidays, but, because of a different municipal code, are not allowed to sleep in them.
In addition to the ordinance, Nordyke said, the city also ruled that 13 particular Goleta streets (the list of which is available on the city’s website) can never be parked on by large vehicles, even with a permit.
That decision, along with the upcoming institution of the ordinance, said Nordyke, reflects the will of the residents.
“Ever since 2002 [when the city incorporated], it has been the number one complaint,” he said, estimating that he receives about 1,000 abandoned-vehicle complaints every year, two-thirds of which he said were motor-home related. “The Goletans — they’ll call, they’ll email. To a lot of people, they’re an eyesore.”
“We tried to make as many accommodations as we could and still have an ordinance that was enforceable,” Nordyke continued, adding that those found to be in violation will be issued a $79.50 ticket.
The online application for permits will be available at cityofgoleta.org by September 1. Permits will also be available at Goleta’s City Hall. People should allow 24 hours for processing.