Duquesne OK’s New Parking Ordinance

Regulation limits RV, commercial vehicle parking near education center

By Tom Leturgey
The Tube City Almanac
June 12, 2024
Posted in: Duquesne News

(Tube City Almanac photo)

Duquesne City Council has passed a sweeping new ordinance that regulates on-street parking of commercial and recreational vehicles, parking near the Duquesne Education Center, and other problem areas.

At its June meeting, council voted unanimously to enact a new city-wide parking regulation. The new rules are available on the city’s website.

Among its provisions, the ordinance:

• Bans on-street parking of trailers, motorhomes and boats for more than 48 hours
• Requires all vehicles to be parked with legally marked spaces
• Prohibits “angle parking” outside of painted parking spaces
• Prohibits long-term parking of commercial vehicles in residential areas, except while loading or unloading during deliveries or while services are being performed in a neighborhood
• Prohibits use of lawns as parking areas
• Restricts parking near Duquesne Education Center between 2 and 4 p.m. on school days

Violators may be fined up to $600 per offense or sentenced to 90 days in jail if found guilty by a district magistrate judge.

Some residents spoke against the measure, which city officials have been considering since the first reading on May 7. However, this month’s vote passed without a hitch.

The ordinance excludes police or fire department equipment or public utility vehicles working in the city. Those vehicles making local deliveries or “rendering service” to occupants of buildings are also excluded.

City officials said the ordinance was prompted by concerns that on-street parking of commercial vehicles, trailers and other large vehicles was hampering emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances.

The ordinance allows residents to park a motor home, travel trailer or camper on their own property as long as the vehicle is at least three feet away from the side of the property and 10 feet or more away from a street.

Under the new ordinance, travel trailers or campers on private property are restricted to no more than 35 feet in length and eight feet in width, and residents may have only one stored outdoors at a time in any residential area.

The ordinance also forbids anyone from living in a travel trailer or RV on a permanent basis.

Residents may have a commercial vehicle parked on their own property as long as it has only two axles. Large trucks — defined as between 14,000 and 33,000 pounds — will be forbidden unless residents request permission on a case-by-case basis.

The city also is taking action to prevent homeowners from turning their front yards into parking areas. Solicitor Myron Sainovich said residents will be required to get permission and provide curb-cuts and other amenities before adding a parking pad to the front of their house.

The ordinance also prohibits long-term parking of storage containers, cargo trailers and so-called storage “pods” on public streets.

Sainovich said that residents who need special exceptions should contact police Chief Thomas Shaw or Mayor R. Scott Adams about any specific case-by-case issues that may arise.

The solicitor added that the city will consider amendments to the ordinance as needed.

Tom Leturgey is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh and the editor of KSWA Digest, the online news and features home of the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance. His work also appears in The Valley Mirror and other publications.

Originally published June 12, 2024.

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