We have dealt with thius issue many times in my community. We presently have 1 three bedroom house with 6 adults and four children and they operate a day care center out of the house. Another same size house has nine adults. As a former member of the HOA, I tried to deal with the situation delicately and with respect to the tennants - but give someone an inch, they will take a mile believe me.
The first situation was parking. Our lots were filling up and many of the cars had out of state plates (expired), or VA plates with no county and/or inspection sticker. It is amazing how many "residents" claimed their car was registered in VA Beach - where they actually "live". VA Beach does not have the city/county stickers. Also, cross plating was an issue - two cars with same plate in the back and no plate in the front.
The HOA started putting friendly warnings on the vehicles threatening towing. This was done for 8 months and few "residents" cared untill we started towing their vehicles that were not in compliance the law - current city/county stickers + inspection stickers and legal plated on both the front and back.
We then heard all about their "rights" to park cars in our neighborhood. When we said that notices were given numerous times to all households and landlords, the most common excuse was " I do not know who my landlord is".
A couple of houses had absentee landlords who did not care what was going on in their house.
Next we took license plate numbers of all the cars belonging to the overcrowded houses. Note - this helps when reporting this to the authorities. Fairfax County officials showed up at the houses and while they may not have been able to prove anything, they must have spooked the residents because they have been quiet as church mice since.
As for commercial vehicles, trucks etc. The county has ordinances about parking these vehicles overnight in residential communities. Check with your local zoning official.
A great reference, even if you do not live in a HOA is this publication from Fairfax County which is everything you need to know about living here and the laws.
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/consumer/community_manual/full_manual.pdf
County Ordinances - While Fairfax County does not have an ordinance specifically
governing the rental of dwelling units, it does have an ordinance related to occupancy restrictions, and the County enforces state housing standards that may have significance for both the association and owners leasing their homes. Chapter 112 (the Zoning Ordinance) of the Fairfax County Code, Section 2-502 “Limitation on the Occupancy of a Dwelling Unit,” allows the following:
• occupancy of a dwelling unit by a family group of two unrelated adults and their
own dependant children, for up to a total of six (6) children;
• roomers or boarders constitute a home occupation use for which a home
occupation permit is required;
• a group of not more than four (4) persons not necessarily related by blood or
marriage; however, occupancy by four (4) unrelated individuals must function as
a single housekeeping unit;
• a group residential facility which may consist of up to 8 mentally ill, or mentally
or developmentally retarded persons with resident staff;
• any group housekeeping unit of not more than ten (10) persons approved by the
Board of Zoning Appeals in accordance with Section 8-300 of the Zoning
Ordinance (Institutional Uses); and,
• one (1) or two (2) persons one of whom shall be elderly and/or disabled as
defined in Section 8-918, and one (1) or both of whom own the dwelling unit,
plus one (1) family, which may consist of one (1) person or two (2) or more
persons related by blood or marriage, and with any number of natural children,
foster children, step children or adopted children.
The Virginia Condominium Act permits the association to establish and enforce
its own occupancy standards and limitations. Additionally, Volume II (Building
Maintenance Code) of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code prescribes a
variety of occupancy, ventilation, sanitation, structural and other health/safety/welfare
requirements for all residential structures, whether occupied by owner or tenant. Unless
constructed many years ago, units in the association will likely comply with the current
health standards. Information about enforcement of state health code standards can be
obtained from the County Health Department online at
http://www.co.fairfax.va.us/service/hd/hdweb.htm , or at (703) 246-2300.
Please note that opperating as a single family unt: This means that FFX County looks for multiple refridgerators as one way to see the cohesiveness of the family unit.