The purpose of these regulations is to promote the public health,
safety and general welfare of the city's residents and motorists.
These regulations are designed to promote safe access to city streets,
to reduce road accidents, to protect public investment in streets,
to establish a safe and reasonable balance between street access and
traffic mobility, and to assure safe and convenient access to and
circulation of emergency and service vehicles within developments.
Further, it establishes minimum design standards for access and parking
lots and minimum requirements for off-street parking.
(Ordinance O-13-08-08-11A1 adopted 8/8/13; Ordinance O-2024-014 adopted 3/7/2024)
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
All-terrain vehicle or side by side.
A motor vehicle that is equipped with a saddle or seat for
the use of the rider or riders and passengers, designed to propel
itself with three or more tires or tracks in contact with the ground,
designed by the manufacturer for off-highway use by the operator only,
and not designed by the manufacturer for farming or lawn care.
Boat.
A vessel designed to float or travel on water.
Boat trailer.
A trailer or semitrailer which is designed and constructed
to carry a sailboat, motorboat or other vessel designed to float or
travel on water.
City.
Incorporated city limits of Hutto, Texas.
Dirt bike.
A bicycle having a motor attached so as to be self-propelled,
designed to travel on not more than three wheels, designed for off-road
use.
Dune buggy.
A small, light, one-horse carriage usually having four wheels
in the United States and two wheels [sic]; also, a passenger or recreational
vehicle, usually with oversized tires, designed for off-road use.
Haul trailer.
A large transport conveyance designed for moving, storing,
or transporting.
Heavy truck.
For purposes of this article, "heavy truck" means any truck,
truck tractor or tractor-trailer combination that has dual or single
wheels or tandem rear axles and which has a gross vehicle weight (GVW)
of 12,000 pounds. The term does not include a passenger car used to
deliver the United States mail, as stated under the Uniform Act Regulating
Traffic on Highways, V.T.C.A., Transportation Code, section 501.002.
Historic district.
The area inside of the 1911 incorporated boundaries of the
city including the co-op district.
House trailer.
A trailer, tractor trailer or semitrailer which is designed,
constructed and equipped as a dwelling place, living abode or sleeping
place (either permanently or temporarily) and is equipped for use
as a conveyance on streets and highways, and shall include those vehicles
commonly known as recreational vehicles.
Loading and unloading.
The continuous movement of goods to and from the vehicle
not to exceed 2 hours in a 12-hour period.
Motor vehicle.
(1)
Any motor driven, or propelled vehicle required to be registered
under the laws of this state.
(2)
A trailer or semitrailer, other than manufactured housing.
(4)
A four-wheel all-terrain vehicle designed by the manufacturer
for off-highway use that is not required to be registered under the
laws of this state; or
(5)
A motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, or moped that is not required
to be registered under the laws of this state, other than a motorcycle,
motor-driven cycle, or moped designed for and used exclusively on
a golf course, under the Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways,
V.T.C.A., Transportation Code, section 501.002.
Motorcycle.
A bicycle having a motor attached so as to be self-propelled,
designed to travel on not more than three wheels.
Motorized recreational vehicle.
A motor home built on a truck or bus chassis or a van chassis.
All these vehicles are powered by internal combustion engines that
run on gasoline, diesel, batteries, or other fuel.
Right-of-way.
Property that is publicly owned or upon which a governmental
entity has an express or implied property interest held for a public
purpose. Examples of such public purpose include, by way of example
and not limitation highways, streets, sidewalks, drainage facilities,
sewerage and water facilities.
Sidewalk.
The portion of a street that is:
(1)
Between a curb or lateral line of a roadway and the adjacent
property line;
(2)
Intended for pedestrian use; and
(3)
Includes any portion of a driveway in the public easement, right-of-way,
or walking path.
Trailer and tractor trailer.
Every vehicle with or without motive power, designed for
carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle
and so constructed that some part of its weight and that of its load
rests upon or is carried by another vehicle.
(Ordinance O-13-08-08-11A1 adopted 8/8/13; Ordinance O-2024-014 adopted 3/7/2024)
Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in accordance with the general penalty section
1.01.009 of this code. Every violation or every calendar day that the violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.
(Ordinance O-13-08-08-11A1 adopted 8/8/13; Ordinance O-2024-014 adopted 3/7/2024)
(a)
Parking certain vehicles for longer than four hours.
Any vehicle such as a trailer, haul trailer, house trailer,
recreational vehicle, trailer, tractor-trailer, semitrailer, boat
trailer, all-terrain vehicle or dirt bike, or boat trailer parked
upon a public street for more than four (4) consecutive hours in any
24-hour period is hereby declared to be an obstruction in the public
right-of-way.
(b)
Parking near cluster mailbox unit.
Any vehicle
may not park within fifteen (15) feet of a cluster mailbox unit.
(c)
Removal of vehicles.
A peace officer may request
the removal, at the owner's expense, of any motor vehicle in
violation of this article.
(d)
Stop, stand, or park on a sidewalk.
[sic]
(Ordinance O-13-08-08-11A1 adopted 8/8/13; Ordinance O-2024-014 adopted 3/7/2024)
No person shall park, stop, or leave a vehicle unattended within an alley, except during the immediate process of loading and unloading or service vehicles performing maintenance, excluding the authorized vehicles in section
22.04.006(b).
(Ordinance O-13-08-08-11A1 adopted 8/8/13; Ordinance O-2024-014 adopted 3/7/2024)
(a)
Heavy trucks shall not be parked in any residential, historic, or mixed-use district except during the process of loading and unloading or service vehicles performing maintenance, excluding the authorized vehicles in subsection
(b).
(b)
Subsection
(a) excludes the following authorized vehicles:
(1)
Maintenance vehicles and trailers owned and/or operated by or
on behalf of the city or any public utility or government entity.
(2)
Authorized emergency vehicles, as defined in Texas Transportation
Code section 541.201, or any amendments thereto, provided such vehicle
is conclusively identified.
(3)
School buses and/or commercial buses actually engaged in the
receiving or discharging of passengers.
(5)
Motor vehicles and/or trailers at or on an active jobsite. The
active jobsite must not be blocking the roadway.
(Ordinance O-13-08-08-11A1 adopted 8/8/13; Ordinance O-2024-014 adopted 3/7/2024)
No person shall park a vehicle upon any roadway for the purpose
of:
(1)
Displaying such vehicle for sale.
(2)
Repairing such vehicle, except repairs necessitated by an emergency.
(3)
Parking or storing an inoperable or mechanically dismantled/disabled
vehicle.
(Ordinance O-13-08-08-11A1 adopted 8/8/13; Ordinance O-2024-014 adopted 3/7/2024)
(a)
A vehicle may be removed from any public street to an approved
storage yard by a contracted service upon the city's request,
under any of the circumstances hereinafter enumerated:
(1)
When any vehicle is left unattended upon any bridge, viaduct
or causeway, or where such vehicle constitutes an obstruction to traffic.
(2)
When any vehicle is illegally parked so as to block the entrance
to any private driveway, and it is impracticable to move such vehicle
from in front of the driveway to another point on the street.
(3)
When any vehicle is found upon a public street and a report
has previously been made that such vehicle has been stolen or a complaint
has been filed and a warrant thereon issued.
(4)
When any such officer has reasonable grounds to believe that
any vehicle has been abandoned.
(5)
When a vehicle upon a public street is so disabled that its
normal operation is impossible or impractical and the person or persons
in charge of the vehicle are incapacitated by reason of physical injury
or other reason to such an extent as to be unable to provide for its
removal or custody or are not in the immediate vicinity of the disabled
vehicle.
(6)
When an officer arrests any person driving or in control of
the vehicle for an alleged offense and such officer is required by
law to take the person arrested immediately before a magistrate.
(7)
When a vehicle is parked on a public street in an area marked
by signs or markings indicating a "no parking zone."
(8)
When a vehicle is parked or standing in or on any portion of
a public street when the vehicle constitutes a hazard or interferes
with a normal function of a governmental agency, or by reason of any
catastrophe, emergency or unusual circumstances.
(9)
When an inoperable or mechanically dismantled/disabled vehicle
is parked on a public street for longer than 72 hours.
(10)
When a trailer or tractor trailer is left in the right-of-way,
or public street in violation of this article for longer than 48 hours,
after notice has been left and reasonable attempts to contact the
owner have been made.
(11)
Parking in areas designated by the city as a special event or
route area as indicated by posted signage. Special event signage may
be permanent or temporary.
(b)
Once a vehicle is removed from a public street, the city shall
cause to give notice of the removal to the registered owner and all
lienholders of record by telephone, in person, or according to the
notice provisions of Texas Transportation Code section 683.012. The
notice shall indicate the location of the impounded vehicle, the reason
for the removal, the means of securing its release, and the fact that
the vehicle will be subject to sale at public auction if it is not
reclaimed within twenty (20) days of the date notice is given.
(c)
An owner or registered lienholder of an impounded vehicle may
reclaim the vehicle upon payment of all towing, preservation, and
storage charges resulting from the removal of the vehicle, or upon
payment of garage keeper's charges, if notice is given under
Texas Transportation Code section 683.012.
(d)
The owner or lienholder of an impounded vehicle may obtain immediate
possession of the vehicle by requesting a hearing and posting an appearance
bond in the amount of the charges for the towing, preservation, and
storage of the vehicle.
(e)
The provisions of this section pertaining to reclaiming an impounded
vehicle shall not apply to vehicles impounded for evidentiary purposes
for possible criminal prosecution or to vehicles subject to forfeiture
under applicable laws.
(Ordinance O-13-08-08-11A1 adopted 8/8/13; Ordinance O-2024-014 adopted 3/7/2024)
(a)
It shall be unlawful for any person or any owner to park, stand,
or store or to permit the parking, standing or storing of any vehicle,
ATV, recreational vehicle, motor home, boat, boat trailer, farm equipment,
motorcycle, trailer, heavy truck, trailer, truck-tractor or any other
type of vehicle on unimproved surfaces including front yards and side
yards of any residential district.
(b)
Improved surfaces for vehicle parking or storage in any residential
district shall not exceed 40% of the square footage of the yard areas
or 400 square feet. The improved surface area shall include the paved
area leading directly to the garage or carport area. Improved surfaces
shall be constructed of concrete or asphalt pad or other materials
approved by the city prior to installation.
(Ordinance O-13-08-08-11A1 adopted 8/8/13; Ordinance O-2024-014 adopted 3/7/2024)
(a)
Restricted.
After written notice, it shall be
unlawful for the owner or operator of the below-listed vehicles to
use outdoor storage or overnight outdoor parking of tractor-trailers,
semi-trucks, semitrailers, or other vehicles, having a gross vehicle
weight rating of 12,000 pounds or more, in any commercial districts,
highway right-of-way, or undeveloped property. Construction equipment
and vehicles having a gross vehicle weight rating of 12,000 pounds
or more shall not be stored on lots in residential [districts], commercial
districts, highway right-of-way, or undeveloped land except during
the period of permitted construction, while loading/unloading at a
commercial business, commercial businesses who operate said described
vehicles that are kept on their property, or locations permitted by
zoning.
(b)
Definitions.
Undeveloped property.
Those areas of land that are located in the city limits,
whether located in any commercial, industrial or residential zone,
upon which no certificates of occupancy have been issued.
Written notice.
Official written police warning to said described vehicles
which is left in a conspicuous place for the owner/operator to review.
Information from the notice will be entered into the record management
system database maintained by the police department.
(Ordinance O-13-08-08-11A1 adopted 8/8/13; Ordinance O-2024-014 adopted 3/7/2024)
In the city or wherever the city has designated the manner in
which motor vehicles shall be parked on any public street, by marking
parking spaces on such streets, it shall be unlawful to park any motor
vehicle or trailer on any such street other than in the manner so
designated and entirely within the lines of one such space, except
during the process of actively loading and unloading, or service vehicles
performing maintenance, and governmental operations.
(Ordinance O-2024-014 adopted 3/7/2024)
(a)
No person shall stop, stand, or park any vehicle or trailer
in any area temporarily designated as no parking area by the city
and marked by signage described below, except by permit issued by
the city.
(b)
Special event or route signage.
48 hours prior
to a special event and or event route parking, the city shall designate
the temporary no parking zones with temporary/removable signs at least
12-inches wide and 18-inches in height with red lettering on a white
background and border in red stating "No Parking" in large red letters
on the top two lines and the words "Any Time" in red on the next two
lines, with a rectangular white supplemental plaque with a red border
and the words "Tow-Away Zone" in red on two lines, with a second rectangular
white supplemental plaque with a red border that displays an "Effective
Date" in red letters on the bottom two lines each in conformance with
the Texas Manual of Uniformed Traffic-Control Devices, as it may be
amended. The signs shall be placed or mounted conspicuously no less
than 30 feet apart.
(c)
The city manager, chief of police, or the designated representative
shall have the authority, when reasonably necessary, to prohibit or
restrict the parking of vehicles along a street, highway, or part
thereof constituting a part of the route or special event. The police
department shall have the authority to impound any vehicle at the
owner's expense that obstructs a special event or route during
the special event.
(d)
Enforcement of this section by law enforcement may not begin
until 48 hours after the special event signage is posted.
(Ordinance O-2024-014 adopted 3/7/2024)
The purpose of these regulations is to promote the public health,
safety and general welfare of the city's residents and motorists.
These regulations are designed to promote safe access to city streets,
to reduce road accidents, to protect public investment in streets,
to establish a safe and reasonable balance between street access and
traffic mobility, and to assure safe and convenient access to and
circulation of emergency and service vehicles within developments.
Further, it establishes minimum design standards for access and parking
lots and minimum requirements for off-street parking.
(Ordinance O-13-03-07-11A1 adopted 3/7/13; Ordinance O-2024-014 adopted 3/7/2024)
(a)
No person shall stop, stand, or park except temporarily while
the motor vehicle is occupied by a driver any motor vehicle in those
areas marked with a posted sign or pavement markings or curb markings
designated "no parking."
(b)
The city may install, remove, or adopt as part of development
"no parking" signs as deemed necessary, provided the regulatory signs
follow the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic-Control Devices, shall
be considered lawful and enforceable.
(c)
Fire lane parking:
No person shall stop, stand,
or park except temporarily while the motor vehicle is occupied by
a driver any motor vehicle in those areas marked with a posted sign,
pavement markings or curb markings designated "Fire Zone" or "Fire
Lane."
(d)
Stopping, standing or parking-prohibited in places reserved
for handicapped:
No person may stop, stand, or park a
motor vehicle within any specially designated and marked parking space
provided for a physically disabled person, in accordance with this
section, whether on public or private property, unless the motor vehicle
is transporting a person eligible for distinguishing insignia placard
or number plates bearing the international wheelchair symbol, and
either:
(1)
The motor vehicle displays the distinguishing insignia placard;
or
(2)
The motor vehicle displays number plates bearing the international
wheelchair symbol. Parking spaces subject to this section shall be
clearly and conspicuously designated as being reserved for the physically
disabled in the following manner: Each space shall be posted with
a permanent sign, located not less than three feet nor more than six
feet above the grade. The sign shall bear the internationally accepted
wheelchair symbol and shall indicate that the parking space is "reserved"
or "reserved parking." Signs conforming to the standards found in
the Manual on Uniform Traffic-Control Devices, revised edition, published
by the United States Department of Transportation, Federal Highway
Administration, shall be deemed to be in compliance with this subsection.
Signs which substantially comply with the provisions of this subsection,
however, shall not be deemed to be insufficient for failure to comply
strictly with the manual.
(Ordinance O-13-03-07-11A1 adopted 3/7/13; Ordinance O-2024-014 adopted 3/7/2024)