Condo Talk: Painless Parking

(Posted Nov. 14, 2023) By Charlotte Smith

Covenants Staff has recently fielded a wide variety of questions regarding parking from representatives of condo associations in Reston; inquiries and concerns include:

• Keeping designated guest parking spaces available for visitors and guests;

• Managing residents who own more vehicles than can be stored in allotted spaces;

• Responding to inoperable and abandoned vehicles; and

• Removal of unauthorized vehicles parked in resident or guest spaces.

Condo associations that face issues such as these may wish to consider assigning window decals to resident vehicles for visual identification. When possible, this option can also ensure you know who is in your community and may provide contact information for tenants and/or off-site owners. 

Additionally, staff recommends that condo associations utilize their management company to collect contact information, particularly for renters, for the purpose of ensuring that the association can be in contact with the owners of all vehicles stored in the condo common area.

Condos are also encouraged to establish clear rules and set time limits, through a documented and adopted parking policy, such as establishing maximum time periods for a vehicle parked in visitor/open spaces without being moved or ensuring all vehicles parked on association-owned property are operable and current with registration and inspection requirements.

Please contact your Covenants Advisor, Charlotte Smith, if you would like more helpful information in responding to parking concerns.