Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California
Can CC&R's prevent you from parking a business vehicle in your driveway?
We live in a gated community in California with CC&R's that prohibit commercial vehicles from being parked within the Association without defined what constitutes a commercial vehicle. For nearly two years the property management company has said nothing about my husband's 3/4 ton company pick-up being parked in our own driveway in the evening. Now, they have decided that this breaks the rules. There are other owners that also drive company vehicles. The difference is that the others do not have company logos on the doors. What constitutes a commercial vehicle and does non-action on their part for two years establish a precedent? Thanks.
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Can CC&R's prevent you from parking a business vehicle in your driveway?
The answer, as with everything in the law, is, "it
depends." If the CC&Rs are as unclear as you say,
then the ultimate answer would be whatever a judge
decides after a trial. No one can predict with
certainty what the judge will decide, so no one can
give you an authoritative answer. Certainly, you have
persuasive arguments that the CC&R restriction
doesn't apply to ordinary vehicles that simply happen
to have logos on the sides, or that the inaction of
the homeowners association for so long has established
a precedent. However, there may be equally
persuasive arguments on the other side.
You'll be able to get a better answer if you take the
CC&Rs and any other documents to a lawyer, but there
is no absolutely correct answer.
Re: Can CC&R's prevent you from parking a business vehicle in your driveway?
It's hard to say what definition of commercial vehicle applies here, but quite possibly the one set forth in the Vehicle Code: "....a vehicle used or maintained for the transportation of people for hire....or designed, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property." (VC section 260). Note that this says nothing about logos painted on doors, and would seem to classify pickup trucks as commercial or not commercial on the basis of use, not appearance.
Failure to object to a breach of contract can constitute waiver; waiver can be a defense if repeated or prolonged and later attempts at enforcement of the waived provision would be a hardship on the breaching party (but check the contract for anti-waiver clause).