- Honestly, I think it’s less about “cool” and more about visibility. A covered car stands out, especially if it’s not the usual daily driver.
- Cities tend to act when something looks out of the ordinary, even if it’s not actually a problem.
- My neighbor’s old minivan sat for ages, but once he put a tarp on it, code enforcement showed up.
- I get why people want to protect their cars, but sometimes the cover just draws more attention than leaving it alone.
- It’s not always fair, but I doubt it’s a conspiracy against Mustangs or classics... probably just about what breaks up the “normal” look of a street.
Cities tend to act when something looks out of the ordinary, even if it’s not actually a problem.
Nailed it. It’s not about what’s “cool” or even what’s actually abandoned—it’s about what sticks out. The minute you toss a car cover or tarp on something, it’s like putting a neon sign on it for code enforcement. I’ve seen the same thing in my neighborhood: rusty pickup sits for months, nobody cares, but as soon as the owner tries to “clean it up” with a cover, suddenly it’s a code violation.
Honestly, these new city rules feel like overkill. I get wanting to keep the streets tidy, but there’s a difference between a junkyard and someone trying to protect their classic from sun damage. If anything, the covers show people care about their cars. But yeah, it does mess with the “normal” look, and that seems to be all it takes for the city to get involved.
If cities really cared about blight, they’d go after the actual eyesores, not people trying to do the right thing. Feels like a case of rules for rules’ sake, not actual improvement.
CAN’T WIN EITHER WAY WITH THE CITY
It’s wild how a faded old sedan with four flat tires just blends into the background, but slap a nice cover on a vintage ride and suddenly you’re public enemy number one. I get that cities want to keep things looking “uniform,” but it’s kinda backwards. If anything, a cover shows you’re not just letting your car rot. Maybe the real crime is caring too much? Honestly, it feels like you’re doomed either way—either it’s too messy or too neat for their taste.
Had a similar run-in last year. My neighbor’s old minivan sat on the curb for months, tires flat, windows fogged up...nobody blinked. I put a cover on my ‘72 Datsun for a week and got a warning sticker. Feels like the rules are more about what’s visible than what’s actually neglected.
I get where you’re coming from, but I kind of see why the city focuses on what’s visible. A covered car can look abandoned fast, even if it’s a classic under there. My neighbor once left his ‘68 Mustang under a tarp and the HOA nearly had a meltdown... Meanwhile, the rusty Civic across the street just blended in. Not saying it’s fair, but I guess it’s easier for them to spot a cover than check every car’s condition.
