If your car sticks out past your driveway and blocks the sidewalk, Charlotte can now ticket you $100.

The Charlotte City Council voted 8-2 on Monday, Aug. 24, to eliminate a longstanding exception that allowed vehicles parked "at a permanent or temporary driveway" to extend onto public walkways. The change applies citywide, including Ballantyne neighborhoods where shorter driveways and denser development are common, WSOC-TV reported.

The vote followed a complaint filed under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Assistant City Attorney Lisa Flowers told the council that cars blocking even part of a sidewalk violate federal law, but conflicting language in two existing city ordinances had given violators an apparent pass.

"Even if a vehicle is partially obstructing a sidewalk, it can create a complete barrier to someone in a wheelchair, somebody pushing a stroller or someone just trying to walk down the street safely," Flowers said at the Aug. 24 council meeting.

Charlotte already prohibited sidewalk parking under two separate ordinances. The problem was that one included the driveway exception while the other did not, creating inconsistent enforcement and citation disputes, according to Flowers.

What it means for Ballantyne driveways

Residents can still park in their driveways. The rule targets only vehicles that extend beyond the driveway boundary onto the sidewalk. Under Charlotte's Unified Development Ordinance, driveways must be at least 20 feet long and 10 feet wide, enough to fit at least one full-size vehicle.

The city plans to offer an education period before issuing citations, Flowers said, though no specific start date for enforcement has been announced.

Who voted how

At-large Councilwoman Dimple Ajmera voted in favor, saying the change helps families and people with disabilities use existing sidewalk infrastructure without stepping into traffic.

At-large Councilwoman LaWana Slack-Mayfield and District 4 Councilwoman Renee Perkins Johnson cast the two dissenting votes. Johnson argued the rule conflicts with the city's push for density, the Charlotte Observer reported, saying residents in an expensive city sometimes have multiple cars and shorter driveways that make full compliance difficult.

Both code enforcement and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department will enforce the revised ordinance. Residents with questions or concerns can contact Charlotte's Code Enforcement Division or attend the next City Council meeting.