(a) 
For the purposes of this article the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
Alley.
Land dedicated to public use and devoted to secondary access to lots.
Boat trailer.
A trailer and/or semitrailer which is designed and constructed to carry a sailboat, motorboat or other vessel used upon any body of water.
Bus.
Every motor vehicle designed for carrying more than 10 passengers and used for the transportation of persons and every motor vehicle other than a taxicab designed and used for the transportation of persons for compensation.
City.
All areas included within the corporate city limits of the City of El Campo, Texas.
Commercial vehicle.
A bus, semitrailer, truck, truck tractor, house trailer, farm tractor or any vehicle, with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating in excess of 10,000 pounds or carrying capacity exceeding one ton.
Driveway, private.
Any entrance or exit over the sidewalk or sidewalk area of any street affording a means of ingress or egress for vehicles to or from any private property.
House trailer, travel trailer.
A 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.
Implement of husbandry.
Every vehicle designed and adapted for use as a farm implement machinery or tool as used in tilling the soil but shall not include any passenger car or truck.
Loading zone.
That portion of any roadway set apart, marked and numbered for the sole use of the public as a place for loading or unloading passengers, merchandise or other cargo.
Motor home.
Every vehicle designed and constructed as a dwelling place, living abode or sleeping place (either permanently or temporarily) and equipped for use as a conveyance on streets and highways.
Motor vehicle.
Every vehicle which is self-propelled.
Oversize vehicle.
A motor home, any motor vehicle or trailer that exceeds 20 linear feet, or any commercial motor vehicle with a rated gross weighted capacity of in excess of one and one-half tons according to the manufacturer's classification.
Park, parking.
The standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, other than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading merchandise or passengers.
Recreational vehicle or RV.
Any camper trailer, travel trailer, motor home, truck camper, fifth wheel designed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational camping or travel use, constructed with integral wheels to make it mobile and/or towable by motor vehicle.
Semitrailer.
Every vehicle without motor 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.
Street, roadway and highway.
The entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purpose of vehicular and pedestrian travel.
Trailer.
Every vehicle without motor power, designed for carrying animals or property, or used as a recreational vehicle, and for being drawn by a motor vehicle. The term shall include, but not be limited to, semitrailer, utility trailer, travel trailer and boat trailer.
Truck.
A "commercial vehicle."
Truck parking.
An area designated for parking a commercial vehicle/truck.
Truck tractor.
Every motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry a load other than a part of the weight of the vehicle and load so drawn.
(b) 
Whenever any words and phrases used in this article are not defined in this article, but are defined in the state laws regulating the operation of vehicle, any such definition therein shall be deemed to apply to such words and phrases used in this article.
(Ordinance 2018-25 adopted 10/22/18; Ordinance 2022-07 adopted 4/11/22; Ordinance 2025-06 adopted 3/24/2025; Ordinance 2025-17 adopted 12/8/2025)
Whenever the city shall have 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 on any such street other than in the manner so designated and entirely with the lines of such space.
(1988 Code, ch. 10, sec. 18.00; 2010 Code, sec. 44-30(a); Ordinance 2022-07 adopted 4/11/22; Ordinance 2025-06 adopted 3/24/2025; Ordinance 2025-17 adopted 12/8/2025)
It shall be unlawful for any person to park any vehicle on any of the streets, or portions thereof, specified by ordinance on file in the office of the city secretary, when signs or street or curb markings are in place giving notice thereof.
(1988 Code, ch. 10, sec. 18.00; Ordinance adopted 8/1/38, sec. 5; Ordinance adopted 1/9/56, secs. 1, 62, 63, 94; Ordinance adopted 11/26/56, secs. 2–4; Ordinance adopted 9/10/62, sec. 3; Ordinance adopted 11/8/76, sec. 1; Ordinance adopted 8/8/77, sec. 1; Ordinance adopted 10/10/77, sec. 1; Ordinance adopted 12/22/77, sec. 1; Ordinance 1980-18, secs. 1, 2, adopted 6/23/80; Ordinance 1980-22, adopted 8/11/80; Ordinance 1981-42, adopted 12/28/81; Ordinance 1982-18, adopted 8/23/82; Ordinance 1984-03, adopted 2/27/84; 2010 Code, sec. 44-30(b); Ordinance 2022-07 adopted 4/11/22; Ordinance 2025-06 adopted 3/24/2025; Ordinance 2025-17 adopted 12/8/2025)
(a) 
Parking of oversize and commercial vehicles, trailers, boats, or boat trailers prohibited on streets, highways, alleys or other public rights-of-way in residential zoned districts.
(1) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to park or stand a commercial vehicle, oversize vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, boat, or boat trailer or to allow such to park or stand upon any public street, highway, alley, sidewalk or public right-of-way between any street and alley, within any part of the city classified by the zoning ordinance of the city as a single-family residence district, two-family and attached single-family residence district, multiple-family district, or multiple-family residence district (being zoning designations R-1E, R-1, R-1S, R-1M, R-2 and R-3).
(2) 
It is an affirmative defense to this section that the vehicles or trailers defined in subsection (a) herein are:
(A) 
In the act of loading, or unloading passengers, freight, or merchandise;
(B) 
Publicly owned or franchised emergency or utility vehicles carrying out official duties;
(C) 
Being used for street construction, maintenance, or repair;
(D) 
Suffering with a mechanical defect, making it unsafe to proceed further, in which event it shall be lawful to stand or park the vehicle only during the time necessary to make emergency repairs;
(E) 
Any motor home, boat, boat trailer, trailer or house trailer being loaded, unloaded, or otherwise prepared for use or storage during a period of time that does not exceed five hours;
(F) 
Owned or operated by a contractor who has parked the vehicle in front of a residence or residential lot for which the person is contracted to do work, provided that the vehicle is parked only between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. and only while the work is being performed; or
(G) 
Vehicles defined herein as recreational travel trailers, motor homes, boats and boat trailers that are parked for a period of time not to exceed 24 hours in anticipation of immediate use and being moved there from within such time period.
(b) 
The long-term parking, or a period of time that exceeds 24 hours, or storage of any recreational or commercial vehicles, as defined in this section, in residential zoned district (being zoning designations R-1E, R-1, R-1S, R-1M, R-2 and R-3), must meet the following requirements:
(1) 
May not be used for housekeeping, living, or sleeping quarters.
(2) 
May not extend over a public easement, sidewalk, or right-of-way or impede the line of site for passing traffic.
(3) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to park or store a recreational or commercial vehicle in the front or corner-side yard of a residence. Recreational or commercial vehicles may be parked or stored behind the front building setback in the back yard, or side yard of a residence.
(4) 
Recreational or commercial vehicles may only be parked on an impervious surface of concrete, asphalt or stabilized gravel, or other commonly accepted material approved by the building official. Driveways for recreational or commercial vehicles should have the appropriate curb cuts, any damage to curb cuts by private property owners to city streets will be the responsibility of the property owner.
(5) 
Recreational or commercial vehicles and trailers must be operable with valid registration tags and not otherwise classified as 'junk vehicles' as defined in chapter 8, offenses and nuisances, article 8.06, junked vehicles.
(Ordinance 2018-25 adopted 10/22/18; Ordinance 2022-07 adopted 4/11/22; Ordinance 2023-13 adopted 8/14/2023; Ordinance 2025-06 adopted 3/24/2025; Ordinance 2025-17 adopted 12/8/2025)
It shall be unlawful for any owner, operator or person in control of a commercial vehicle, as defined herein, to leave, park, or stand, or permit the leaving, parking, or standing of such vehicle upon any public street, alley, parkway, boulevard or other property owned or controlled by any unit of government located within the city, except that this section shall not apply to:
(1) 
Commercial vehicles while being used for street construction, maintenance, or repair;
(2) 
Commercial vehicles being utilized by a company engaged in extending public service utilities;
(3) 
Passenger buses taking on or discharging passengers at an approved bus stop;
(4) 
A commercial vehicle parked in a loading zone for the purpose of loading or unloading freight or merchandise to a lawfully zoned business;
(5) 
A commercial vehicle parked for the purpose of expeditiously delivering or picking up merchandise to or from a specific designated location or loading or unloading personal property to or from a specific designated location that shall not exceed three hours in any case; and
(6) 
A commercial vehicle experiencing a mechanical defect making it unsafe or impossible to proceed, for such period of time as emergency repairs are made or, if repairs cannot be made in a timely manner within three hours, until a tow truck arrives.
(Ordinance 2022-07 adopted 4/11/22; Ordinance 2025-06 adopted 3/24/2025; Ordinance 2025-17 adopted 12/8/2025)
(a) 
In all zoning districts, vehicles or trailers of any kind being offered for sale shall not be parked or stored in the public right-of-way, on public property, or publicly owned parking area for the principal purpose of displaying it for sale.
(b) 
In zoning districts where sale of vehicles or trailers of any kind is permitted, no vehicles or trailers of any kind being offered for sale shall be parked in private parking areas without prior property owner permission.
(c) 
In residential zoning districts, no more than one vehicle, trailer, recreational vehicle, camper, boat or similar may be parked and offered for sale on the same property, under the following circumstances:
(1) 
Said vehicles must be registered to the occupant of the property.
(2) 
Any parking of said vehicle or other meets any other applicable parking regulations herein required.
(Ordinance 2025-06 adopted 3/24/2025; Ordinance 2025-17 adopted 12/8/2025)
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any owner or person in control of a commercial or oversize vehicle, or trailers, as described herein, or any owner or person in control of property described herein to leave, park, or stand a commercial or oversize vehicle, or trailers or permit the leaving, parking, or standing of a commercial or oversize vehicle, or trailers upon property within any nonresidential zoned district according to the city's unified development code, chapter 10, except where one or more of the following conditions exist:
(1) 
The commercial or oversize vehicle, or trailers is parked upon an approved parking surface that meets the standards set forth in the city's unified development code within an area zoned industrial according to the city's unified development code and does not obstruct a designated fire lane;
(2) 
The commercial or oversize vehicle, or trailers is parked or standing for no longer than three hours for the purpose of expeditiously loading or unloading passengers, freight or merchandise, and does not obstruct a designated fire lane;
(3) 
The commercial or oversize vehicle, or trailers is parked or standing for no longer than three hours at a retail business or restaurant while the driver of the vehicle is a customer of the retail business or restaurant, and does not obstruct a designated fire lane;
(4) 
The commercial or oversize vehicle, or trailers is parked at a lawfully zoned business establishment, wherein such commercial or oversize vehicle, or trailers is utilized as an integral part of such lawfully zoned business, and does not obstruct a designated fire lane;
(5) 
The commercial or oversize vehicle, or trailers is a passenger bus parked on a parking lot in an area designated by the owner of the parking lot for the parking of buses, and with the consent of the owner during such a period as the bus passengers are attending an event at a facility zoned for such activities, or are customers at a retail center, or in the case of a hotel or motel, during such periods of time that the bus passengers are customers of the hotel or motel, provided that under no circumstance does the commercial vehicle obstruct a designated fire lane;
(6) 
The commercial or oversize vehicle, or trailers are parked in a designated area at an exhibit or exhibition hall, convention center, entertainment, or similar facility when the commercial or oversize vehicle, or trailers is involved in the delivery and removal of equipment, products, merchandise, livestock, or other items to and from the facility, and does not obstruct a designated fire lane. All such commercial or oversize vehicles, or trailers must be identified with an official temporary parking permit issued by the facility hosting the event and must be parked in the area designated for such vehicles. The temporary permit must identify the vehicle to which it is issued by license plate number and state, year, make, model and color, the driver of the vehicle and the name and date or dates of the event during which the permit is valid;
(7) 
The commercial or oversize vehicle, or trailers is a truck or trailer no greater than 26 feet in length, bumper to bumper, being driven by an individual who has rented the vehicle from a commercial business for the purpose of transporting his personal property from one location to another, and parked for less than 24 hours at a motel or hotel while the driver of the vehicle is a customer of the hotel or motel, and does not obstruct a designated fire lane; or
(8) 
The commercial or oversize vehicle, or trailers is parked at a motel or hotel while the driver of the vehicle is a customer of the hotel or motel, does not obstruct a designated fire lane, and possesses a placard, measuring at least 8.5 inches by 11 inches, issued by the hotel or motel placed in the driver's side window of the commercial or oversize vehicle, or trailers indicating the name of the hotel, name of the driver, license plate number of the commercial or oversized vehicle, or trailers, duration of stay at the hotel or motel, the printed name and signature of the hotel's or motel's authorized representative, and a contact telephone number for the hotel or motel is parked in a truck parking area at a motel or hotel within the city, which has been specifically approved for truck parking by the city council in accordance with the procedures and standards set out below.
(b) 
It shall be unlawful for any owner or person in control of a commercial or oversize vehicle, or trailers set forth herein, or any owner or person in control of property described herein to leave, park, or stand a trailer or semi-trailer or permit the leaving, parking, or standing of a trailer or semi-trailer upon property within an area zoned nonresidential according to the city's unified development code, except where said trailer or semitrailer is an integral part of a lawfully zoned business.
(c) 
Upon approval by resolution, the city council may temporarily suspend the restrictions imposed by this article in order to accommodate special events held within the city. The resolution of suspension shall become effective 48 hours prior to the official start of the scheduled event and shall terminate 48 hours after official conclusion of the event.
(Ordinance 2022-07 adopted 4/11/22; Ordinance 2023-13 adopted 8/14/2023; Ordinance 2025-06 adopted 3/24/2025; Ordinance 2025-17 adopted 12/8/2025)
(a) 
The police, code enforcement officers or their designated representatives and any other employee of the city authorized by the city manager are each authorized to administer and enforce the provisions of this section, including the issuance of citations.
(b) 
The registered owner of the vehicle and/or the driver is considered the responsible party. In prosecution under this section, it is presumed that the registered owner of the vehicle for sale is the person who parked the vehicle for sale at the time and place the offense occurred.
(c) 
Each vehicle in violation of this article shall constitute a separate offense. In the prosecution of an alleged violation of this article no proof of a culpable mental state shall be required.
(d) 
A person who violates this article shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $500.00 for each day or part thereof that the violation occurs.
(Ordinance 2022-07 adopted 4/11/22; Ordinance 2025-06 adopted 3/24/2025; Ordinance 2025-17 adopted 12/8/2025)