How to Avoid the Two Most Common Parking Violations in the West Winds HOA

As we continue to build our beautiful West Winds community, it's important that we all understand and follow our neighborhood parking regulations. These rules help maintain our property values, ensure safety for all residents, and keep our streets accessible for everyone. Today, we want to address the two most common parking violations we've observed and help clarify the regulations that govern parking in our community.

The Two Most Common Parking Violations

1. Prohibited Storage of Boats, RVs, and Trailers

One of the most frequent violations we encounter involves the improper storage of non-passenger vehicles such as boats, campers, recreational vehicles (RVs), and utility trailers. Many residents are unaware of the specific restrictions that apply to these vehicles.

What's NOT Allowed:

• Frequent, Long-term (over 24 hours) parking or storage of boats, campers, trailers, RVs, or commercial vehicles in areas visible from public streets

• Storing these vehicles in driveways, front yards, backyards, or side yards where they can be seen by someone driving on public streets

What IS Allowed:

• Storage within an enclosed garage

• Storage in side and rear yard areas where the vehicles are completely screened from view of public streets AND neighboring properties (subject to HOA/Architectural Control Committee approval)

• Short-term, infrequent parking (up to 24 hours) for loading, unloading, cleaning, or maintenance purposes

Important Note About Backyard Storage: Simply parking a utility trailer, boat, or RV in your backyard doesn't automatically make it compliant. The vehicle must be completely screened from view—meaning it cannot be visible to someone driving on public streets OR to neighbors from their properties. This often requires proper fencing, landscaping, or other screening approved by the Architectural Control Committee.

Special Exception for Small RVs: RVs that are 20 feet or shorter may be parked on your driveway for up to 24 hours, but only once every 30 days and only with written permission from the Association. This exception is specifically for cleaning, loading, and unloading purposes.

2. Vehicles Blocking or Obstructing Sidewalks

The second most common violation involves parking vehicles or campers in a way that blocks or obstructs the safe use of city sidewalks. This creates safety hazards for pedestrians, including families with strollers, individuals using mobility devices, and children walking to school.

Why This Matters:

• Blocked sidewalks force pedestrians into the street, creating dangerous situations

• It violates City of Bozeman Municipal Code Section 34.02.020, which requires that sidewalks remain "free, clear and clean of all obstructions"

• It can result in violations from both the HOA and the City of Bozeman

Common Scenarios to Avoid:

• Parking vehicles so they extend over or encroach into the sidewalk

• Allowing trailers or RVs to block sidewalk access

• Storing equipment or materials that encroach on sidewalk space

Common Misconception: "It's in My Backyard, So It's Fine"

One frequent misunderstanding involves utility trailers, boats, and other recreational vehicles parked in backyards. Many residents assume that because something is on their property and not in the front yard, it's automatically compliant with HOA regulations. However, this isn't always the case.

The Reality: Our CC&Rs require that these vehicles be screened from view not just from public streets, but from neighboring properties as well. A utility trailer visible over your back fence to neighbors, or a boat that can be seen from the street through your side yard, would still be in violation of our regulations.

What "Screened from View" Really Means:

• The vehicle cannot be seen by someone driving on any public street

• The vehicle cannot be seen by neighbors from their properties

• Proper screening typically requires adequate fencing, landscaping, or other barriers

• All screening solutions must be approved by the Architectural Control Committee

Before You Park: If you're considering storing a recreational vehicle or trailer in your backyard, please contact the Architectural Control Committee first to discuss proper screening requirements. They can help you determine what type of screening will be necessary and approve appropriate solutions.

Additional Important Parking Rules

While addressing our most common violations, it's worth reviewing some other key parking regulations:

Inoperable Vehicles: No inoperable vehicles may be parked where they're visible from public streets. This includes vehicles with expired plates, unregistered vehicles, or vehicles on jacks.

Commercial Vehicles: Commercial vehicles over one ton must be parked in enclosed structures unless they're temporarily being used for construction, maintenance, or repair work in the immediate area.

Unused Vehicles: Vehicles that haven't been driven for 30 consecutive days are considered "unused" and must be stored in a closed garage.

Why These Rules Matter

Our parking regulations serve several important purposes:

Safety: Keeping sidewalks clear ensures safe passage for all residents, especially children, elderly residents, and those with mobility challenges.

Property Values: Maintaining clean, uncluttered streetscapes helps preserve and enhance our property values.

Community Standards: These rules ensure our neighborhood maintains the attractive appearance that drew us all to West Winds.

Legal Compliance: Following these regulations helps us comply with both our CC&Rs and City of Bozeman ordinances.

Important Legal Considerations

It's crucial to understand that parking violations can have broader implications beyond just HOA rules:

Compliance with All Laws: Our CC&Rs Section 13.29 states that no owner shall permit anything to be done on their lot that violates any law or governmental requirement. This means that blocking sidewalks isn't just an HOA violation—it's also a violation of city law, which can result in citations from the City of Bozeman.

Avoiding Nuisances: Section 13.31 of our CC&Rs prohibits activities that obstruct or interfere with other residents' rights to use and enjoy common areas or that disturb the peace and comfort of neighbors. Improperly parked vehicles can create exactly these kinds of problems by:

• Blocking pedestrian access and forcing people into dangerous situations

• Creating visual obstructions that affect neighborhood enjoyment

• Interfering with emergency vehicle access

• Disrupting the peaceful residential character of our community

These provisions reinforce why proper parking compliance is so important—it's not just about following rules, but about being a good neighbor and maintaining the quality of life we all value in West Winds.

Questions About Compliance?

If you're unsure whether your parking situation complies with our regulations, we encourage you to contact the HOA board. We're here to help clarify any questions before violations occur.

For situations involving RV parking permissions or questions about screening requirements, please get in touch with the HOA well in advance of your needs.

Working Together

Remember, these regulations apply to all of us equally, and following them helps create the kind of community we all want to live in. Most violations occur simply because residents aren't fully aware of the rules, not because anyone is intentionally disregarding them.

If you receive a violation notice, please don't hesitate to contact us with questions. We're committed to working with residents to resolve issues quickly and fairly.

Thank you for your attention to these important community standards. Together, we can keep West Winds a beautiful, safe, and welcoming place for all residents.

The West Winds HOA Board of Directors & Officers

The content provided in this blog/news story is intended for informational purposes only. It is designed to offer a simplified and reader-friendly overview of pertinent sections of the West Wind HOA's Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs), as well as the relevant city of Bozeman regulations, ordinances, or laws. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, this content should not be considered a substitute for the actual governing documents, applicable city laws, ordinances, or legal advice. Homeowners and residents are advised to consult the full, legally binding governing documents and city regulations or seek professional legal counsel for official reference or legal purposes.