Town of Carrollton encroaches on liberty, passes law that requires landowners to complete construction projects in 30 days or less, load/unload in 3 or less
The Town of Carrollton’s New Trailer Restrictions: A Serious Threat to Property Rights
The Town of Carrollton has recently imposed new restrictions that significantly limit how long a property owner may reside in a travel trailer during a construction project. Under the new rules, no individual may reside in a trailer for more than 30 total days in a single year, regardless of how many projects they are working on.
That means if one project takes 20 days, and another takes 12 days later in the year, you are already in violation—despite being on your own property, funding your own improvements, and harming no one.
This ordinance applies even when a project legitimately requires on-site living. Some people—especially those with health, mobility, or respiratory conditions—choose to live in a trailer during construction to avoid prolonged exposure to dust, debris, fumes, and construction noise. The reason someone chooses to reside temporarily on their own land should not be subject to government micromanagement.
The Three-Day Loading and Unloading Rule
Even more concerning is the Town’s enforcement of a three-day unloading rule found in the final paragraph of Section 420.020 of the municipal code:
“Parking of trailers or recreational vehicles and equipment solely for the purpose of loading and unloading is herewith permitted for a reasonable period not to exceed 3 days.”
For disabled residents—like myself—this creates an impossible situation. If I have supplies loaded onto a trailer at Lowe’s by employees because I physically cannot do so myself, I now have only three days to unload everything at home, regardless of the scope of the project, weather, or physical limitations.
If someone has a demolition project that takes longer than three days, they are effectively forced to:
- Stack debris on the ground throughout the project, and
- Handle every piece of debris twice, placing it back into the trailer at the end—and somehow do it all within three days.
These rules are not grounded in public safety. They create unnecessary hardship, increase physical risk, and disproportionately impact the elderly, injured, and disabled.
Transparency Concerns and Public Awareness
Many residents remain unaware of these changes because they are busy working, raising families, and maintaining their homes—which is exactly when accountability becomes hardest to maintain. Alarmingly, the Town’s video recording equipment has failed during the last two consecutive City Council meetings. That alone raises serious transparency concerns.
When public access to government proceedings disappears at the same time controversial laws are passed, citizens should be paying attention.
This Will Not Stop Here
History shows that when governments begin regulating private property in this way, more restrictions follow. If residents do not become informed and engaged now, they may soon discover additional rules were passed without their knowledge.
These ordinances represent a growing pattern of overreach into how citizens may use their own land, even when no nuisance, safety issue, or harm exists.
Why This Matters
This is not just about trailers. This is about:
- Property rights
- Disability accommodations
- Government transparency
- And the basic ability to improve your home without being crushed by arbitrary timelines
If these rules can be applied to one, they can be applied to all.