No Designated Condo Parking Spaces

C.F. from outside of Connecticut writes:

Dear Mister Condo,

Do you know if condos are required to have designated parking spaces? We do not and people park wherever they want. Problem being one resident is saying that we are breaking the law by not having designated parking spaces.

Mister Condo replies:

C.F., I am not aware of any laws that require condominium associations to provide designated parking spaces. If the resident that is making the claim feels a law has been broken, I would think a quick call to the local police department would end that discussion. I am not an attorney nor am I a legal expert in your part of the country. You may wish to speak with the association’s attorney for a proper legal opinion and to determine if the association is, in fact, breaking any laws with regards to non-designated parking.

On a practical side, the association’s parking lots are most likely common areas. As such, they are under the full control of the Board. If the “free for all” nature of unassigned parking is causing concern for residents, it may be time to number and assign the spaces. It is quite common for condominiums to handle their parking lots in this manner. If the Board deems it necessary to assign parking spaces, they simply need to create a resolution to assign the parking spaces and vote on it. If it passes, the association will hire a contractor to stencil the parking spaces as mapped out by the Board. Voila! Assigned parking spaces! However, in smaller associations it is not uncommon to simply have a parking lot like you do now. It really is at the Board’s discretion how to handle this. Good luck!