Darien Targets Commercial Vehicles Outside Houses

DARIEN, IL – Darien is looking to clarify its regulations for the parking of commercial vehicles in residential neighborhoods.

According to a city memo this week, Darien police and code enforcement have had difficulties enforcing the code for such vehicles.

This part of the city's code goes back to 1972, with updates in the 1990s and early 2000s.

The rules restrict the parking of vehicles based on weight, vehicle type, whether they are "for hire," and whether they are being used for a commercial enterprise.

"This has led to habitual offenders claiming certain vehicles are for personal use, or are hobby cars," the memo said. "In addition, the regulations fail to account for the mainstream adoption by the public of larger pickups, utility vans, and EV trucks. In many cases, the ordinance is not specific enough to enforce."

Darien listed examples of commercial and overweight vehicles parked on residential properties locally:
• Decommissioned military vehicles such as Humvees and supply trucks
• School buses
• Tow and dump trucks
• More than three work trucks
• Construction machinery
• Food trucks

Darien's rules are less restrictive than those in Burr Ridge. Burr Ridge bans outdoor storage of any commercial or overweight vehicles, a rule that some residents oppose.

The City Council lists potential clarifications to the local code in its meeting agenda packet, starting on page 200.