Outdoor Use and Storage of Upholstered Furniture
Is there “interior” decorating going on with the exterior of homes in your community? Some might say that seeing furniture designed to be used indoors located in their neighbor’s front yard or porch is objectionable—and they might be right. An upholstered couch or mattress located outdoors that is visible from any public place has been considered a nuisance by some municipalities. If you are considering whether to amend your local legislation to regulate the outdoor storage or use of indoor furniture, we have sample legislation to help you.
Sample Ordinances:
Cortland, C. NY: Ch. 220, Art. III
Colonial Heights, C. VA: §244-11.1
Port Chester, V., NY: Ch. 235
Oswego, C.. NY: §280-80.1
City of Cortland, NY
ARTICLE III, Outdoor Storage of Furniture
[Adopted 7-6-1993 (Ch. 10, Art. VII, of the 1969 Code of Ordinances)]
§ 220-10. Upholstered furniture or mattresses in yards prohibited.
The use of any upholstered furniture manufactured primarily for indoor use, including mattresses, shall be prohibited on any front or side yard visible from any public place, sidewalk or highway as defined in Chapter 300, Zoning, of the Code of the City of Cortland.
§ 220-11. Use of porch for storage prohibited.
It shall be prohibited to use any unenclosed front or side porch area for the storage of manufactured furniture primarily for indoor use, including mattresses.
§ 220-12. Penalties for offenses.
Any person violating this provision shall be guilty of a violation punishable as provided in § 1-22 of the Code of the City of Cortland.
City of Colonial Heights, VA
§ 244-11.1. Exterior storage of objects and equipment.
A. Except as provided herein, no person who owns or is in possession of, in charge of or in control of any property shall store, deposit, scatter or keep on the premises in any residential area any of the following: lumber, scrap metal, construction materials, machinery components, equipment, appliances, furniture not designed and intended for exterior use, or any similar object which is not clearly intended for outdoor use on the premises.
B. This section shall not apply to lumber, construction materials, or equipment which is intended for use within 30 days in construction or renovation on the premises. This section shall not apply to any lumber, construction materials, or equipment which is intended for use in construction or renovation on the premises for which there exists an active building permit.
C. This section shall not apply to any object in an enclosed building or so located upon the premises as not to be readily visible from any public place or street or adjacent property. This section shall not apply to any objects located in the rear yard of any premises in an area of no more than eight feet by eight feet by six feet in height and shielded from view by a covering.
D. The City Manager, or his designee, upon observation or upon complaint that conditions exist on any real property in the City that violate this section, shall investigate the conditions existing upon such property. If as a result of such investigation the City Manager, or his designee, determines that the owner, occupant or person in charge of such property is in violation of this section, the City Manager, or his designee, shall give written notice to the person or persons found to be in violation specifying the nature of the violation and directing such person or persons to take such action within the time specified in the notice, not less than 10 days, as shall be necessary to rectify the violation identified in the notice. Such notice may be given by certified mail to such person's last known address or it may be given as provided in § 244-9 herein.
Village of Port Chester, NY
Chapter 235. OUTDOOR STORAGE
ARTICLE I. Furniture
[Adopted 9-18-2002 by L.L. No. 16-2002]
§ 235-1. Use or storage of indoor furniture.
The use, keeping or storage of any upholstered furniture, including mattresses, manufactured primarily for indoor use, shall be prohibited in any front or side yard and on any unenclosed front or side porch.
§ 235-2. Penalties for offenses.
Any person violating this provision shall be guilty of a violation punishable by a fine not to exceed $250 per day.
City of Oswego, NY
§ 280-80.1. Outdoor use and storage of upholstered furniture. [Added 10-14-1997]
The use or storage of any upholstered furniture, including mattresses, manufactured primarily for indoor use shall be prohibited on any front or side yard visible from any public space, sidewalk, street or highway. The use of such furniture as aforesaid shall also be prohibited on any unenclosed porch which is situated on public property in the City of Oswego, New York.
