Definition

The outside placement of an item for a continuous period in excess of 24 hours. Outside placement includes storage in a structure that is open or not entirely enclosed.

• A person shall not place, store, or maintain outside, for a continuous period in excess of 24 hours, an item which is not
• customarily used or stored outside; or
• made of a material that is resistant to damage or deterioration from exposure to the outside environment
• For purposes of this subsection, an item located on a porch of a building is considered to be outside if the porch is not enclosed
• Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, accessory outside storage is not permitted in the front yard or on a front porch of a residential building. For purposes of this subsection, "front yard" means the portion of a lot or tract which abuts a street and extends across the width of the lot or tract between the street and the main building
• It is a defense to prosecution under this subsection that the item is:
• an operable motor vehicle with valid state registration parked on a surface that meets the standards for parking surfaces contained in the off-street parking regulations of this chapter, except that this defense is not available if the vehicle is a truck tractor, truck, bus, or recreational vehicle and it has a rated capacity in excess of one and one-half tons according to the manufacturer's classification, or if the vehicle is over 32 feet in length
• a boat, trailer, or recreational vehicle parked on a surface that meets the standards for parking surfaces contained in the off-street parking regulations of this chapter, and the item cannot reasonably be placed in an area behind the front yard
• landscaping, or an ornamental structure, including, but not limited to a birdbath, plant container, or statuette, placed in the front yard or on the front porch for landscaping purposes
• lawn furniture made of a material that is resistant to damage or deterioration from exposure to the outside environment
• located on a front porch and not visible from the street; or
• a vehicle displaying a registration insignia or identification card issued by the state to a permanently or temporarily disabled person for purposes of Article 6675a-5e.1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes
• A person shall not use more than five percent of the lot area of a premise for accessory outside storage. The area occupied by an operable motor vehicle with valid state registration is not counted when calculating the area occupied by accessory outside storage. Except as otherwise provided in this article, outside storage is considered to be a separate main use if it occupies more than five percent of the lot.
• The board may grant a special exception to the additional provisions of this subsection relating to accessory outside storage in the front yard or on a front porch of a residential building when, in the opinion of the board, the special exception will not adversely affect neighboring property.