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High Point tightens rules on tents at home

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Comments (10)

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

(Updated 11:02 am)

By E.A. Seagraves
Staff Writer

High Point residents who erect metal frame structures with fabric coverings, such as tents and canvas or plastic canopies, and use them as carports or storage facilities will now have to follow regulations about where those structures are placed.

The High Point City Council on Monday approved an amendment to the city’s ordinance defining these structures as residential accessory structures. Just like garages, they should be located in the side or rear yard. The size of those structures must also be 50 percent or less of the total area of the home.

A building permit would be needed for structures that are 12 feet in any dimension.

This amendment also allows temporary structures to be erected up to 14 days. Those can be placed anywhere on the property and can be any size — as long as they are removed after the allotted time period.

Residents had complained about peoples who erect such structures and used them for permanent storage throughout their yards.

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Illiterati

July 21, 2009 - 9:28 am EDT

Glad High Point officials are spending their time worrying about tents in yards while the rest of us are trying to find a way out of this recession. /eye roll

holland4

July 21, 2009 - 10:21 am EDT

I doubt that amending a municipal ordinance will prolong the current economic recession by more than half an hour.

Illiterati

July 21, 2009 - 3:58 pm EDT

Sorry, should've been clearer. ANY time spent amending ordinances to address tents on private property is a waste of time, regardless of the current economic climate.

Or, in 4 letters and 4 words, addressed to officials of towns both big and small, and to all busybody neighbors: MYOB! Get off my lawn!

blackstream

July 21, 2009 - 10:28 am EDT

I guess the rich folks couldn't stand the thought of the poor having something too.

blockhead

July 21, 2009 - 11:22 am EDT

Looks to me like High Point and Archdale are still trying to one up each other. Archdale wants a $200.00 fence around a $139.00 pool, High Point wants to keep ya from using a canopy to cover your boat or car. If it ain't on the big wheels list of thing they want don't let the poor man have it.

rmacz

July 21, 2009 - 4:03 pm EDT

Love these comments, they are the best part of the news.

sir william

July 21, 2009 - 4:28 pm EDT

Do all these city councils drink from the same water fountain? Is this what they get paid for? Such a waste of tax payers money! High Point,Greensboro,Archdale, Winston-Salem--- Work on the issues at hand first, then you can worry about "tents and other useless junk"! LORD, GIVE ME STRENGTH!!!

Blair

July 21, 2009 - 5:48 pm EDT

So much for the saying "It's a free country".

suzanne22

July 21, 2009 - 6:04 pm EDT

Tents? Are you guys serious? This is laughable. In fact it's an embarrassment that we voted for people who waste time and money on something as trivial as this. You politicians need to get a real job. Do something meaningful with your time in office.

iamconcerned

July 22, 2009 - 3:40 pm EDT

Just be certain to get the names of all the people who wasted time on this issue and not vote for them in the next election. It's also just another way for the city to try and make money on issuing permits and fines.