You may now park your commercial vehicle in your Palm Coast driveway.
The Palm Coast City Council voted 3-2 today to approve on second reading the ordinance that now makes it legal to park certain commercial vehicles–or vehicles with large advertising or other markings on their exterior–in residential driveways without covering them with tarps.
The allowance extends to typical work trucks and pick-up trucks up to 20 feet long and 9 feet high. Only one truck per driveway is allowed. Markings will not be regulated. They may be advertising, polemical, artistic or gibberish. Larger commercial vehicles, boats, box trucks, dump trucks and the like are still prohibited from long-term parking.
Duplexes are only allowed one commercial vehicle per unit. (A previous version of this article misreported “a unit” as “one duplex.” The allowance applies to each unit in a duplex.)
Palm Coast has tried to relax its parking rules on behalf of working-class residents since 2010, failing at every step until now. In six months, Code Enforcement Manager Barbara Grossman will report to the council on whether, and to what extent, residents may be abusing the new allowance.
Opponents of the looser rules, including Council members Charles Gambaro and Dave Sullivan, say the city’s character will suffer, neighborhoods will look shabbier, and swales will be damaged from commercial vehicles parking on them, though the city forbids overnight parking on swales. “This is a slippery slope, if there ever was one,” Sullivan said.
Supporters of the measure–Mayor Mike Norris, Council members Theresa Pontieri and Ty Miller voted for it–say working people should not have to spend time and money every day parking their commercial vehicles in storage zones. They dispute the claim that it would have a negative effect on the city’s character or on property values.
“For me, ultimately, it comes down to, you know, supporting trades and skilled labor and our local economy,” Miller said. “Are we here to say that because you’re the trades, you’re not welcome here? I don’t want to say that. I don’t think that’s fair at all. I think it’s an undue burden to have to take your work truck to a parking lot behind a storage unit that everybody says, We don’t want any more storage. That’s the reason why there are so many storage units, because people have to park their vehicles there. And it’s not cheap, so, you know, I don’t think it’s going to change the character of Palm Coast in any way.”
“If this does end up being a slippery slope, and we are starting to see more abuse, I may reverse course on this,” Pontieri said. “I don’t think we’ll see that. I think that we’ll see reasonable people that are violating the rules now, their vehicle may be now in compliance.”
“I definitely don’t want work vehicles being parked in the swale as a place of storage when people are at home,” Miller said. “Use your driveway. Put it in the driveway where it’s appropriate.”
Most cities don’t forbid work trucks from parking in driveways. Palm Coast is behind the times, even in comparison with state legislation, which in 2024 relaxed similar rules regarding homeowner associations, or HOAs. Last year, the Florida legislature approved a bill that, among many provisions protecting the rights of homeowners, prohibits HOAs from banning commercial truck parking in driveways.
Pontieri said Palm Coast’s rules are still tougher than state rules. “It would be remiss of us to punish hard workers, many business owners, likely small business owners, because some people want to take advantage of a reasonable ordinance,” she said. “And in my mind, this is a reasonable ordinance, so I look forward to the six month check in.”
DP says
That’s great news, and the start of making living in PC more desirable for the working class. I think the city should do better for duplexes by allowing them to park if their driveways are separated from each other. Even With most of them sharing driveways its going to start war between the tennats. I think Charles Gambaro and Dave Sullivan, need to get there heads out of thier as% by saying the city’s character will suffer, and neighborhoods will look shabbier, and swales will be damaged from commercial vehicles parking on them. What’s any difference then parking in the swale during the day???? Thank god one of them is leaving the council, and will hopefully end his political career by not getting elected. And we just vote the other out.
CPFL says
Read about duplexes again, clearly states 1 per unit. Duplex being 2 makes that 2 units. Not that hard to figure out.
FlaglerLive says
Yes we corrected that, sorry about the error.
eddie says
duplex is one unit with 2nd floor
Response to a denigrating comment says
This is a typical “working class” comment, and that includes the crass vocabulary.
Some people just can’t get out of their own way. You can’t buy class.
Regarding the lambasting of 2 of our city councilmen, Dave Sullivan and Charles Gambaro are military veterans, highly educated, and have served in their communities in various and multiple ways.
Please, what has this nasty commenter done with his or her life besides denigrating others in the name of being “working class”?
To me, this is an extremely toxic and nasty comment and very unnecessary.
This was a quiet and very nice community before the likes of this angry commenter moved in and started trying to change everything to his/her own mindset, that of a low class LOSER who will always be an angry loser. The military veterans, educated and intellectually, emotionally and financially evolved will always be able to move on to better locales thereby leaving all the rentals, duplexes, commercial trucks, boats, RVs, parking on yards and swales behind. It will become a lower class town gradually.
For those who want Whole Foods, Sprouts, and other upscale businesses, you might as well forget it. Palm Coast has now branded itself “working class” and the future will see that out. Attracting any type of upscale business will be very difficult.
Why any city would want to put the word out that we’re now “WORKING CLASS” is laughable and beyond me. Don’t most people and businesses strive to go upwards in life?
Justbob says
Big mistake.
Lj says
So true. It’s like a Vegas strip about to begin. Window cleaning to my right. Gutter cleaning to my left. Power washing ahead . Etc etc etc
Bill says
Welcome to holly hill! Next bring in all the riff raff, we are making progress now!
Tired of it says
Short term rentals, raising chickens, paint any color you want and now park you ugly, noisy commercial vehicle next to the house someone worked hard to pay for so they can see the value drop. Those living in the wealthier neighborhoods, with HOAs will be fine, the average, retired resident who worked hard to afford a nice home will be the ones hurt. Ask the three politicians how many new code enforcement agents they hired. The majority of PC residents are stil retired people, and they will remember this when they vote.
Jane Gentile-Youd says
My prediction:Biggest mistake for residential home values
Anonymous says
The statement that our neighborhoods will look “shabbier” if commercial vehicles are parked in driveways is unfair and overlooks the reality that many residents depend on these vehicles for their livelihood. Working families shouldn’t be characterized as diminishing the city’s “character.” We simply need reasonable accommodation that respects both our work and our community. Many of us take pride in our homes and maintain our properties responsibly. I believe this is a balanced approach that supports local workers while still upholding community standards.
hjc says
Gambaro and Sullivan need to hit the road.
TR says
Great news for the hard working class. Now there will be a bunch of people that will park vehicles that aren’t allowed, and the city needs to come down on them hard right from the first violation after one warning. They will do this on spite and say if the guy down the street can park his commercial van in his driveway. Then I can park my commercial limo in mine. They will not look at the regulations.
Now as far as parking in the swales go. No one is permitted to park in the swales between the hours of 1am – 6am. Why I have no clue. Besides, there are plenty of people that do it anyway and no one does anything about it. During those hours, the sheriff’s dept. is to issue citations and yet they don’t so the problem continues. Heck people drive through my swale on a regular basis because of being stew-pd.
City should find a way to stop people from cutting the corners on corner lots and fine the violators. Yes I live on a corner lot and have taken matters into my own hands to stop this from happening. But I shouldn’t have to because of the ignorance of the city council.
VFIAX says
From this comment, it would seem only the “working class” work hard. Poor things, the working class are the only ones who know what it’s like to break their backs every day to put food on the table, savings in the bank, and enough to have a somewhat presentable home.
Military veterans and educated professionals who’ve spent 15 years getting educated and then paying off $150,000+ in student loans, then working 7 days a week to pay off the student loans don’t count AND going without don’t factor in.
From the “working class” comments, I don’t have any sympathy for you people. You’re not special. Plus, there exists within your “working class” mentality an extremely biased and angry mentality.
Don’t forget the non-working class are the ones who have the money to keep you in business. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
CR says
So according to TR only the people with advertising signage for their companies on their vehicles are the hard working class??? TR says to HELL with the rest of the other workers in Palm Coast. What sort of logic and reasoning is that.. Stupid is as Stupid does. Seems to be an epidemic in this city.
TR says
Wrong, you missed my point, that’s what stupid.
TR says
Please don’t put words in my mouth, because that’s not what I said. But you can take a trip there if you want. Sorry you missed my point.
bill says
well, let the great knowledgeable councilwoman Pontieri be surrounded by commercial vehicles around her house and if it gets out of hand she said she will come back and restrict it sure sure sure I done code enforcement in the city and it’s a joke hire more cold enforcement officers you won’t do that I have seen instances where cold enforcement officers were either let go or resign or what it took months to replace them so the manager of that department can keep the money in her budget. It’s a big joke big joke. The city has turned into a crap hole in the 25 years i have been here
melly says
Had no idea there were this many NIMBYs in Palm Coast, over “work vehicles with stenciled logos and lettering”. Wow. Just wow. How petty and vapid. Palm Coast is a “city”, it’s not an HOA. The sooner our council stops treating it like one, the better off we’ll all be.
Ed Danko, firmer Vice-Mayor, Palm Coast says
I fought hard to get this approved when I was on council, but Mayor Alfin was adamantly opposed, and it failed with a 3-2 vote. I am glad this has finally passed. Palm Coast is not an HOA and we should all have a lot of respect for those people who work in the trades. They are a large part of our business community and our neighbors. It is very disappointing that two of the present council members voted against those who actually work for a living.
Just Saying..... says
As I see it every house has a garage. Park your work vehicle in your garage and everyone wins.
bill says
can you fit a 9 foot high commercial vehicle in your garage?
Tony says
I will be calling the sheriff every time I see more than one commercial vehicle in a driveway. Get them off of the interstate and put them to work in the city.
Kenny says
It’s about time this has passed! There are a lot of working class citizens here and not just retirees anymore. Also the city should attract more family friendly businesses here where it would give the kids more to do. Things like the mini golf that’s coming..
Mark says
Or a Roller Rink.
Land of no turn signals says says
Now that the flood gates are open the party can begin.Now we can reduce the amount of storage units.
Jane Gentile-Youd says
Illegal to remove or rescind what DEED granted! Property deed restrictions must be grandfathered . You cannot just update what you bought!
Hey
Zone any raw land to new rules but you don’t take away anyone’s original propert rights the day they accepted to purc
Pogo says
Laborious Larry says
Working Class my Ass! A majority of the wrapped vehicles will be realtors and lawyers. Oh, and Man Cave dude that’s never turned a wrench in his life.
Lj says
Real estate values tanking in 3 2 1!
Just a note about changing Ordinances says
When I first got here I was hoping for what it was advertised as, a smaller commuity between St Augustine and Daytona. Now it is almost as bad (and getting there fast) as what I left after retiring, a big city with bad traffic. Rezoning and Ordinances that are not followed are common here. If you report someone, you are apt to be the villain and that family’s kid(s) will go out of their way to make you miserable. So people don’t report much. At first I wanted to excercise my rights, and reported some Ordinances were being broken, making the whole neighborhood look bad. One particular Ordinance the county DA actually took up a case of harassment (from a juvenile) because I reported someone’s continual breaking of this Ordinance. They gave the kid an alternate punishment without my knowledge or agreement and the kid still bad talks me if I am in earshot.
Plus a Sheriff that doesn’t care about your right to have a peaceful night, his deputy telling me to have a nice day, then leaving as I was talking to him. A mayor that tells me he will look into the problem, but never had even the courtesy to answer me back about it after my several email inquiries why. Even more than that Ordinances are being modified, and not for the good. All from pressure of realtors and influencers. For us that cannot afford the houses in HOA restricted developments, we might want to just leave it to all the angry and disrespectful people in these new developments and from the established ones too. Bigger city is not better, just means more people that will turn the city into something we did not bargain for nor want. I know you can’t stop progress, but I am not blind and I see previous and now present city council not having the knowledge or courage to make the right decisions. If I wanted a big city I would never have moved here, this was supposed to be my forever home.
Just me. says
When is the City of PC going to stop allowing all the house developments being built and deal with the traffic this overcrowding is causing?
Kpn says
Amen!
Joey says
It’s time to get rid of Chicken Lady Pontieri and the other clowns who voted for this!!!!
Ed says
So what actually will change ?
There are hundreds of these vehicles parked in drivewys,swails & lawns now and the joke that’s called “code enforcement ” can’t get compliance. So I guess the city has taken the stance “If you can’t beat them join them.”
Ed says
So what actually will change? There are literally hundreds of commercial vehicles parked in driveways,swails & on lawns now and the joke that’s called code enforcement does nothing about it.
I guess the city has adopted the stance
“If you can’t beat them … join them ?”