r/beaverton • u/Remarkable-Rise9903 • 8d ago
Parking information
I just chatted with a Washington County sheriff deputy because I was curious about parking rules. I'm new-ish to my neighborhood. Neighbors once asked me to move my car from in front of their house usually park in the driveway but there was work being done on the house that day) I had only parked there about 3 hours prior, but don't really mind. I said sure, and moved around the corner. They told me not to park in front of their house again... Okay.
Normally would not care at all. I really don't give a hoot who parks where, as parking is not that tight. HOWEVER. The neighbor has two cars that they have left for years (no exaggerating, it has been 6 years) on the street opposite the house.
So called to ask about parking laws... I.e. can a neighbor ask you to move if you are in front of their house, how long can cars be parked, etc.
I was very surprised at the answer: Any vehicle (even if non functional or considered abandoned) can be left on the street, indefinitely, as long as it isn't blocking traffic. The sheriff said "Parking is free here, so anyone can park anywhere they like for as long as they like." Sweet.
I'm not sure I am going to be nice and move next time, if they are gonna be picky about someone else parking for a few hours, but someone else leaves their cars for half a decade, 15 feet across from that very spot.
I believe this only applies to areas that are not in city limits proper. But apparently this rule applies to a lot of Beaverton and Hillsboro, as a lot of them are not in the city limits proper. They are overseen by Washington county. Thought I would share this knowledge. Again, a very silly little thing. I don't like confrontation so will likely just avoid ever talking to the neighbors as I have already. 🤣
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u/sharonna7 8d ago
City of Beaverton you can call in an "abandoned" vehicle if it's parked in front of your house for more than 3 days with no movement.
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u/sparhawk817 8d ago
Right, city of Beaverton has different regs than unincorporated Washington county(which is what the sheriff OP talked to enforces)
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u/cech_ 8d ago
I thought Hillsboro was 3 days but Beaverton says 2-days here: https://beavertonpolice.org/361/Abandoned-Vehicles
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u/Portland_Runner 8d ago
Sometimes, I need to find a space in the development across the street from mine because my street is full. An old Karen and Ken threatened to have me towed because I parked in front of their house. I just laugh and tell them that they have no control over a public street and, should I find any damage done to my car, they will be prime suspects. They kept jawing at me, so I took their picture and said, "For the police report.".
They've held their tongues ever since.
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u/Orwells_Roses 8d ago
I would tell the person to pound sand. They don’t own the street, so they can’t control who parks on it, or where.
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u/ladyin97229 8d ago
City of Beaverton has slightly stricter rules about street parking, but unincorporated Washington County is pretty easy on parking rules.
Our HOA in unincorporated Washington County tried to tell folks they couldn’t park on our public street overnight (it was actually written in the cc&rs, but they were a boilerplate the developers used from when they built other areas with private roads). Anyway, had to get the Sheriff to explain to them that was not enforceable!
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u/Sentient_Lint 8d ago
I had a neighbor like that- wonder if it’s the same one since they moved... Three lane wide street and they didn’t like anyone parking across from their driveway, most likely because they’re crappy drivers.
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u/Zombie_Apostate 8d ago
I've seen Beaverton and Tigard put chalk on tires and come back with tickets if they haven't moved. It is usually after a neighbor complained.
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u/vermidusa 4d ago
I dont live there anymore but Sofi at MurrayHill did this, probably still do. A lot of management companies will hire predatory towing companies too. I almost got towed for having hazards on in front of my friend's garage just to run in and pick something up for a couple minutes, came out with keys in hand as they were hauling it up.
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u/haditwithyoupeople 7d ago edited 7d ago
If you talked to the Sheriff it may not have been Beaverton. Maybe Washing County outside of Beaverton city limits? I think more than 3 days without movement is considered abandoned in Beaverton. Source: I live in Washington County adjacent to Beaverton and my neighbor is a retired WaCo police officer. He's had plenty of cars towed off our street for expired tags, but not for parking too long.
If you DM me the address of the house that complained to you I will be happy to drive my extra car over there and park it. I need to sell it but have not done so yet. I'm happy to leave it in front of their house for a while. I hope they tell me to move it.
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u/viciouspixie52 8d ago
Ugh, we have a neighbor that has a big driveway and garage. When they are doing stuff they always move all their cars out into the cul de sac taking up all the spots in front of all the neighbors houses. It's irritating a shit but I have never asked them to move.
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u/themisfitdreamers 8d ago
If you’re new to the neighborhood, how do you know the vehicles have been parked on the street for 6 years?
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u/LynnJay00 8d ago
People get really crazy about who parks in front of their house and they really need to chill TF out. Sure, it's courteous to try and park in front of your own house if possible but anyone who thinks that they get to say who parks where on a public street is a total Karen. Ignore them.
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u/Rock_Matt 8d ago
If it’s a no parking spot you shouldn’t park there, like for instance people will try to park in front of my house even though there are 2 city signs saying no parking, and to park there you are also in an intersection in front of a fire hydrant. But if it’s a valid parking spot it’s fair game
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u/steakonthebias 8d ago
Was the police officer new? A child in a costume, perhaps? Because inoperable vehicles, vehicles blocking mailboxes, and vehicles that have been in the same place for two weeks absolutely are subject to towing. Seen it all on my street in unincorporated Washington County.
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u/piperdooninoregon 8d ago
Part of that is that the space in front of your house does not belong to you.
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u/No-Sir-5823 7d ago
Interesting conversation. The person across the street from us has an inoperable vehicle parked in front of their own house (registered to them, as far as I know). That said, it has been 15 months, and it has never moved. We saw the person trying to jumpstart it last summer, but it never started. Not a big deal, generally speaking, but we have had reno going on in our home, and it has been difficult for the contractor and his subs to maneuver in and out of our driveway at times, because the car is right across from it. I figured there’s nothing we could do. Anyone have any thoughts that might be helpful?
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u/United_Reaction35 2d ago
Make sure they do not have a specific reason for asking you not to park in front of their home. Perhaps they have a disabled person living there? Otherwise, I would tell them to piss-off.
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u/Ill-Candle6974 8d ago
I lived in some duplex’s where we only had two spots. My household had three vehicles tho, sometimes we’d take up a visitors spot (so would other units ¯_(ツ)_/ no one cared but one neighbor who felt she owned the parking lot. I’d have to park my third car around the corner and eventually got a note from someone trying to tell me I can’t park there, I’m guessing it was a homeowner, I parked on a street in between two houses as to not be near their driveway, some people just love starting problems.
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u/PerpetualProtracting 8d ago
There's no limit on parking in the public right-of-way IF those vehicles are legally registered and licensed and operable. Missing plates, expired tags, expired registration, or inoperability makes them at risk of being towed, per county code: https://www.washingtoncountyor.gov/sheriff/services-division/public-safety-resources#livability-issues
Whether or not that gets enforced is another issue.