CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLERIGHTNOW) – Charlottesville City Council has revised local parking rules, banning certain large vehicles from overnight parking on city streets. The changes, outlined in Section 15-144 of the city code, are meant to free up parking spaces for everyday use and reduce the long-term storage of personal property in public areas.

The new rules prohibit overnight parking—between midnight and 6:00 a.m.—for vehicles like boats, RVs, antique cars, farm-use vehicles, buses or vans seating more than 12 passengers, and trailers with more than two wheels per axle. Tarping vehicles or parking cars awaiting repairs on city streets is also no longer allowed. Exceptions include emergency repairs and minor fixes by vehicle owners.

According to a statement from the city, Charlottesville Police will focus on voluntary compliance first, working with vehicle owners before enforcing the new rules.

The fully revised section is below:

  • Sec. 15-144. Parking of restricted vehicles
    • No vehicle or trailer listed below shall be parked on any of the public streets of the City between the hours of midnight and 6:00 AM, however this section shall not apply to a vehicle that has obtained a parking permit from the City
    • Semi-truck or semi-trailer, as defined by Virginia Code § 46.2-1500
    • Bus or van designed to carry more than 12 twelve passengers (city school buses and vans accepted)
    • Vehicle with antique license plate
    • Vehicle with F-tag license plate or Farm Use placard
    • Boat
    • Recreational vehicle (as defined by City Code § 34-1200) or Trailer (as defined by Virginia Code § 46.2-1500) in excess of 20 feet in length
    • Any vehicle or trailer with more than two wheels per axle
  • No vehicle or trailer parked on a public street of the City shall be covered with a tarp or cover that restricts inspection of the vehicle’s or trailer’s license plate or state inspection decal.
  • It shall be unlawful for any person, business, or corporation to perform service or repairs on a vehicle parked on a public street within the City, or to store or park on any public street, any motor vehicle left in the custody of any business; provided however, that this section shall not apply to:
    • emergency service or repairs;
    • vehicle owners performing minor service or repairs on their respective vehicles otherwise legally parked and operative; or
    • the accommodation for the immediate transfer, exchange, or removal of a vehicle to or from a garage, repair shop, service station, or parking facility.