[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Lincoln 7-20-1999 by Ord. No. 99-8 (Ch. 12, Art. VII, of the 1990 Code of Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Property maintenance — See Ch. 202.
On-street parking of vehicles — See Ch. 240, Art. III.
Zoning — See Ch. 240.
The Zoning Officer shall have the authority to order removed any vehicle located on private property which presents a hazard to children or other persons, or harbors tall grass or weeds, or creates a fire hazard, or affords a breeding place or nesting place for mosquitoes, flies, rodents or other vermin.
No more than one unregistered motor vehicle in street-worthy condition shall be parked or stored on any property within any residential district. For the purposes of this section, the term “street-worthy” shall mean that the vehicle is operable and capable of receiving an inspection sticker in its present condition in accordance with the laws of the State of Rhode Island governing inspection stickers.
No inoperable, disabled, unserviceable or dismantled motor vehicle, whether registered or unregistered, or trailer or bodies, engines, parts or accessories thereof, shall be parked or stored in any residential district, other than in a carport or completely enclosed garage. However, in the event that no garage or carport is present on the premises, one inoperable, disabled, unserviceable or dismantled motor vehicle shall be permitted for outside storage, provided that the following conditions are met:
A. 
Said motor vehicle shall be completely covered by a secured waterproof covering and vegetation maintained around thereof;
B. 
The chassis of said motor vehicle shall be raised no higher than 18 inches above the ground; and
C. 
Said motor vehicle is stored in a location designated by the Zoning Officer or Assistant Zoning Officer taking into account the topographic features of the land.
The Zoning Officer shall have the authority to authorize temporary relief from this chapter provided that:
A. 
The property owner shows to the satisfaction of the Zoning Officer that such relief will not create a visual nuisance, nor pollute or further pollute soil, water runoff or stormwater. Such hardship shall arise from conditions which require open storage of an excess motor vehicle to repair a registered vehicle for personal use or antique refurbishing. The Zoning Officer shall have the authority to impose specific stipulations as deemed necessary to alleviate adverse affects resulting from open storage or work to be performed, such as visual effects or soil or stormwater contamination.
B. 
Written permission must be obtained from the Zoning Officer. This permission may be revoked upon any violation of set stipulations. Revocation shall be in writing.
No inoperable, disabled, unserviceable or dismantled motor vehicle, whether registered or unregistered, or trailer, body, engine, part or accessory thereof, shall be parked or stored in any nonresidential district, except where such parking or storage is completely within the confines of a commercial or industrial property and is directly related to or accessory to a permitted use on the premises.
The Zoning Officer shall notify any violator of this chapter, in writing by regular mail and by certified mail, return receipt requested. The violator shall have 10 days to respond to said violation, after which time the Zoning Officer shall cause said vehicle in violation of this chapter to be towed at the expense of the violator and shall assess a fine of $250 for the violation.