How many used cars make a used car lot?

[Jeff]

....used cars = A used car lot ?

We have a gas station on the corner (in a residential district) which has 17 (currently) cars for sale on the property. They all have "For Sale" signs in them with the same phone number. If one is sold its immediately replaced with another.

Do any of your ordinances address this?

 

[SW MI Planner]

Our local ordinance doesn't deal with this at all, however, the State of MI Vehicle Code defines a dealer as anyone who buys, sells, exchanges, brokers, leases or deals in five or more vehicles within 12 months. They must be licensed through the state, and there is a hefty fine if your not. Maybe PA has something similar?

You mentioned that it was in the middle of a residential district - is the gas station a nonconforming use? If so, the selling of cars would be considered an expansion and therefore not allowed (at least here it wouldn't).

If gas stations and car dealerships are both an allowable use for that zoning district you might be able to require a site plan, etc. but you might not be able to stop it.

 

[Gedunker]

Actually, our ordinance does not set a minimum threshhold for auto sales lots. However, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles limits the number of vehicles that can be sold without a dealer's license to 12 per year. After that, a license must be approved -- and the license has to be authorized by the local planning authority. I'd check your state statutes to see how they regulate these types of businesses.

 

[Chet]

In Wisconsin its a statutory definition - the sale of ten or more vehicles in a calendar year.

 

[BS Planner]

....used cars = A used car lot ?

We have a gas station on the corner (in a residential district) which has 17 (currently) cars for sale on the property. They all have "For Sale" signs in them with the same phone number. If one is sold its immediately replaced with another.

Do any of your ordinances address this?

You also have to watch this when it comes to people selling one or two cars at a time from their home. A guy that lives near me has been doing this for a couple of years, now his next door neighbor is doing it and I suspect it will continue to spread throughout the 'hood' unless somebody complains to the city.