Warrenton residents who keep their spare vehicles parked on their lawn may soon be getting a visit and a warning from city code enforcement officers after aldermen last week declared such parking to be a nuisance.

Aldermen voted 4-0 on June 21, with two members absent, to ban vehicles in residential areas from parking on any surface other than pavement or gravel. City ordinance now allows repeat offenses within a short time frame to be considered a nuisance and potentially subject to a fine.

The new ordinance declares that more than one offense within any 30-day period will trigger the nuisance designation. A one-time offense would not qualify, but would likely generate a warning.

An exception to this new ban will be made for a vehicle that is temporarily being used to load or offload materials, according to the ordinance.

Prior to the vote by aldermen, citizen advisors on the city’s planning and zoning committee said the lawn parking ban would improve the appearance of the city.

“It’s been such an unsightly thing in our town for such a long time,” said committee member Scott Costello. “It’s an overdue but welcome change, in my opinion.”

The new restriction is part of a broader change in the city’s requirements for off-street parking. Beyond banning front-yard parking, Warrenton’s ordinance now describes where and how driveway extensions can be constructed outside homes.

Homeowners widening their driveways are now only allowed an additional 12 feet in width, and the extension must be built from concrete, asphalt or rock. A rock driveway must meet several other conditions for construction.

To ensure residents comply with the new driveway requirements, the city is now also mandating that anyone wishing to extend their driveway must first receive a permit from City Hall by submitting detailed plans for the work. The permit comes with a fee of $25.