It’s your car. Thus, by right, there’s nothing wrong if you have it parked on your lawn. After all, it’s yours. You’re also not obstructing anyone’s views or inconveniencing anyone by parking your car on your property.
Well, you’re correct for thinking that way. But first, ask yourself, can I park my car on the grass? It’s your property, but since you intend to park on the lawn, the law might not be so friendly to you.
In this article, you’ll understand where it’s illegal or unacceptable to park a car on the grass. Keep reading.
Is It Illegal To Park on the Grass?
Yes, it’s illegal to park a car on the lawn or grass. It doesn’t matter whether it’s private or public property. Most cities are clearly against parking a vehicle on the grass. They regard it as a code violation.
Now, is there any legal implication for parking your vehicle on the grass? Yes, it’s a misdemeanor in most cities.
However, there is an exception. If you lack a parking area, there’s a chance that you could park on the grass since it’s the only option available. But you can’t park your car on the grass just like that. You need something to protect the grasses from rotting.
How do you protect the grass from having your car parked on it? Well, an effortless way is to place wire mesh on the grass. The mesh comes in varied sizes, but 1cm thick mesh isn’t a bad idea. Using this sort of mesh thickness can help prevent your grass from rotting.
Besides mesh, you can also use recycled plastic. What you should do is prepare the ground before placing the thick plastic mesh.
A Pro Tip: The plastic mesh is a thick grass protection mesh designed to protect and reinforce grass areas used by vehicles and pedestrians. The mesh is also slip-resistant and reduces the possibility of turf damage.
The plastic or wire mesh comes in varied sizes. So you have to choose the one that’s ideal for your needs. You have to attach mesh until the entire area is cover. After that, you may consider filling the holes with soil or gravel.
How to Fix Grass Protection Plastic Mesh or Wire Mesh?
Firstly, try cutting the grasses short. It would help if you cut them as short as possible, and make sure they’re even. And when rolling the wire mesh down, please do so neatly and gently. Allow the curved portion to face the ground, and finally, secure the mesh with a U pin.
The U pins will hold the meshes in place as you park your vehicle or step on them. But please ensure you have them placed correctly—Hammer down each pin, one meter apart, along the length, and across the width.
After fixing one mesh, consider laying the second one beside it, and so on. Keep adding the meshes until you have the entire area you intend to park your car covered.
A Pro Tip: It would make sense to ask the authorities if you can park your car on grasses covered with mesh. Doing so will prevent you from getting into trouble with the police.
Can You Park The Car in the Backyard?
Many homeowners face parking problems, which can be draining. And when some can’t find any better option, they may decide to park on their lawn. But the truth is you can’t park your car in the backyard.
Most cities don’t allow it. And if you mistakenly park in the backyard, you might get into trouble with the homeowners association or local authorities.
In some cities, homeowners can park their cars in their backyards. But then, you have to cover the vehicle adequately so that someone across the street won’t see it.
Furthermore, you can park the car in a city where such is forbidden, provided you have good neighbors that won’t blow your cover. But it would make sense if you didn’t bet on their loyalty, as people change whenever they feel like it.
A Pro Tip: It’s best to confirm the rules governing backyard parking from your local council and homeowners association. If they don’t permit it, seek their suggestions on other possible parking spots permitted under the law. And don’t leave your car in your backyard until you’re sure.
Can I Park My Car on My Front Lawn?
Backyard parking isn’t allowed. If you do so in a place where it’s considered illegal, you could get into trouble with the authorities. So, it’s better not to park your car in your backyard if the city doesn’t permit it.
Now, is parking on your front lawn legal? Again, it’s illegal to park in your front yard. But that doesn’t mean vehicles can’t be on the lawn. They can, but it can only happen under certain conditions. Let’s consider them.
1. When passengers enter or exit the car
In these cases, you can leave your car on the lawn for a specific length of time. It’s also best to ensure that the vehicle rests on a grass protection mesh to prevent any possible turf damage.
2. During vehicle maintenance
If you’re doing maintenance or washing your vehicle, you can have it parked on your lawn, but for a while.
3. Picking up or delivering goods
Most goods are not easy to move around. Thus, the delivery people may have to move much closer to make carrying the goods into their vehicle a breeze.
In this case, a delivery man will go closer to the house. It doesn’t matter if he has to step on the lawn with the vehicle, as the idea of getting close is to make moving the goods possible and easy.
A Pro Tip: Please note that some cities allow homeowners to park on their turf for only 1 hour per week. So, use yours wisely. You can decide to use it for pickups and deliveries. But make sure you’re actively involved in all that happens while your vehicle is on the turf.
Why Can’t You Park on Your Lawn?
The reasons the city council and homeowners association prohibits people from parking on their lawns are understandable. The no-parking decision is to protect you, your family, your property, and your neighbors.
Let’s discuss some of the reasons you can’t park on your lawn.
1. You could damage the turf
Having a car parked on the lawn can damage the turf. It can cause the grasses to rot and appear unsightly. Imagine having a poorly maintained yard, while the reverse is the case for the rest of your neighbors.
In this circumstance, you’ll reduce the neighborhood’s appeal. Engine oil may also pour on the grasses and automatically affect their growth or make your lawn look unkempt. You surely don’t want such.
2. You could contaminate underground water
It is common for cars to leave traces of engine oil on the spot you have them parked. Engine oil can also pour on the grasses while doing some maintenance or putting some in the car.
Besides making your lawn appear dirty and damage your turf, engine oil can percolate into the soil, contaminating the groundwater. And you know that when such happens, you won’t be the only one in danger. You’ll be plunging the entire community in serious danger.
3. You could damage your car’s underbody
Plants undergo transpiration. It’s the process by which water gets converted from liquid to a gaseous state. Water is lost from the plant during this process.
As the water evaporates, it will be trapped underneath your car, parked on the lawn. And this could cause your vehicle to start rusting over time. So, if you don’t want to damage your car’s underbody, stop parking on your lawn.
4. Possibility of fire incident
Parking a car on tall, dry grasses is hazardous, especially during the summer when the grasses could be super dry.
The heat from the car’s exhaust touching the grasses could start a fire and take the whole place down.
Can You Get a Ticket For Parking on Your Lawn?
Yes, it’s possible, especially if it’s illegal to park on a lawn where you live. The authorities won’t mind, even if it’s your lawn. So, you might get out of bed one morning to find a parking ticket on your windshield waiting for you.
What offense did you commit by parking on your lawn? It’s a misdemeanor. Additionally, you could be fined handsomely for doing that. By the way, it’s dangerous to park a car on a lawn, as you can see from the points given above.
Conclusion
Can you park a car on the grass? No, you can’t. And please, don’t try to be clever by disobeying the authorities’ no-parking rule. If you’re not so sure, contact the local council or homeowners association to get information on that.
Additionally, not all cities have the “no parking on the lawn” rule in place. So, you have to figure out if your city of residence permits it. You can also check if the authorities allow parking on grasses after covering the grasses with protected mesh.