Drive down a street like Arrowhead Road, which is full of homes converted into rentals, and you're likely to see numerous cars parked in front, much to the ire of neighboring homeowners.
Councilor Jim Stauber is proposing an ordinance he believes would reduce the number of cars people could park in the front yard of a home.
The trick, he said, is simply to define what a front yard is.
Though there is a law on the books that allows police to ticket people who have parked their cars in a home's front yard, Stauber said because that space has never been defined, police can't determine whether cars are parked in a front yard or side yard.
Stauber's ordinance defines the front yard of a home and would mandate that only a small portion of the yard could be made into parking lot or driveway, which would have to be made of asphalt or concrete. Cars could park on only one side of a driveway and not in the front of a home, according to the ordinance.
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Violating the ordinance could cost a $21 fine.
"Keep in mind," Stauber said, "it's always been illegal to park in your yard; we just haven't had a good definition of a front yard."
Some neighbors of college renters, fed up with the loud parties and what they consider to be excess cars, see Stauber's proposal as a welcome change.
"It's a step in the right direction," said Patrice Bradley, whose home is surrounded by college renters.
If the ordinance passes, renters would have to find somewhere else to park. Duluth police Sgt. Leigh Wright, who helped draft the ordinance, acknowledged that would be a problem. But she said renters might be able to park in the backyard or on the street -- even if that means walking a couple of blocks.
"It can be a hardship," Wright said. "I feel for people. Where do they park?"
Jeremy Rose, who owns three student rentals, including two in the Arrowhead Road area, said he sympathizes with people angry with the parking situation, but he doesn't know what he'd do if his tenants couldn't park at their homes.
"There is no place to park around here. Period," he said. "This will cause some major strain. Our properties will not be nearly as rentable."
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Council President Roger Reinert said he supports Stauber, and said the portion of the ordinance defining a front yard could help councilors draft other laws such as how often those yards should be mowed.
"It's the foundation that allows us to put things on top of [it]," he said.
BRANDON STAHL covers the Duluth community and city government. He can be reached weekdays at (218) 720-4154 or by e-mail at bstahl@duluthnews.com .
