Kissimmee residents who park work trucks in front of their homes will soon see a change in what’s allowed — and how the rules are enforced.
The Kissimmee City Commission voted to raise the weight limit for commercial vehicles allowed in residential zones from 8,000 pounds to 10,000 pounds and to base enforcement on a vehicle’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, or GVWR.
Supporters say the change brings Kissimmee in line with other Central Florida cities and helps workers avoid costly storage fees, while some neighbors worry that too many commercial trucks could hurt curb appeal.
The ordinance uses GVWR — the maximum weight a vehicle can safely operate as established by the manufacturer — to determine whether a commercial vehicle is permitted in a residential area. That figure includes the weight of the vehicle, passengers, cargo, fuel and additional equipment. The GVWR standard is intended to make enforcement clearer for vehicle owners, property owners and code officers alike.
Drivers can find their vehicle’s GVWR on the Safety Compliance Certification Label, located on the driver’s side door frame or door latch pillar, in the owner’s manual or on the manufacturer’s website.
Joseph Schaefer, a Kissimmee handyman, said the ability to park a work vehicle at home can have a direct impact on what customers pay.
“If [the owner’s] got to pay for parking in a storage unit someplace, so he can’t park in front of his house, even though he’s got the room, it costs him,” Schaefer said. “And when he has a cost like that, he’s got to pass that on to the consumer — so that means everybody’s going to have to pay more if he can’t park his truck in his driveway.”
Still, Schaefer acknowledged the issue isn’t black and white.
“But as far as a neighborhood in appearance, it doesn’t look good,” he said. “So, it’s got good points and it’s got bad points, it just depends on how you look at it.”
Under the new ordinance, one commercial vehicle at or under 10,000 pounds GVWR is permitted on a residential property, provided it is used by a resident of the premises. The rule applies to vehicles parked in driveways as well as those stored in an enclosed garage. The ordinance also continues to allow many take-home work vehicles, such as vans used by plumbers and electricians.
City staff arrived at the 10,000-pound maximum after comparing rules in other Central Florida jurisdictions.
The commission had previously tabled the item at its April 7 meeting to allow staff more time to research an appropriate weight maximum, and subsequently held a workshop before arriving at the 10,000-pound figure