Boaters Seek Right To Park Boats In Driveways

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Boaters in Yarmouth, Massachusetts are hoping they’ll be allowed to park their boats in their driveways next summer. But some are pushing to be allowed to do that year-round.

According to a report in the Cape Cod Times, a proposed bylaw amendment would allow boaters in the Cape Cod town of Yarmouth to park boats in home driveways during the summer. The amendment is expected to be voted on at a special town meeting on November 17.

The town’s current bylaw prohibits residents from parking boats in their driveways. Residents are only allowed to park boats in their yards next to or behind their house.

The proposed amendment would allow one boat up to 28 feet long to be parked in a home driveway on a registered trailer from April 1 to November 1, and only with a special permit. The amendment is only for residents who can’t access the side of their property with their boat.

However, some Yarmouth boaters said the amendment doesn’t go far enough. They said they want to be able to park their boats in their driveways year-round because they often can not find winter or off-site storage.

Planning Board officials are considering whether to change the amendment to make it year-round. They must finalize the proposal by October 15 to have it ready for the special town meeting.