Can a car owner perform car maintenance on a city street, such as installing tires, draining fluids, etc.?

We checked in with our Department of Community Services and the answer can be complicated depending on the mechanical issues involved. Obviously, if you get a flat tire, you could work on the flat tire on the street without government regulation. The same could be said for a quick minor repair.

But taking a car apart and draining liquids could cause an issue, especially if any fluids are drained onto the street, triggering an issue with stormwater drainage. It’s probably best to do that work in a garage or a private driveway. The amount of time a car is left in the street can also become an issue. The City Code Section 6-115 is relevant, as is 6-48. Here is a link to that Code Section.

Authored by Council Members Tony Green, Adam Aasen, Rich Taylor, Matt Snyder, Jeff Worrell, Teresa Ayers, Shannon Minnaar, Ryan Locke and Anita Joshi.