By Katie Luscombe
For The State News

For those moving off campus and away from the rules of the dorms, there are a few rules that come along with living in East Lansing.

So before you place that hand-me-down couch illegally on your front porch or pay your life savings in parking fines, check out these ordinances.

Parking

In East Lansing, all motor vehicles must be in designated parking areas. Cars may be parked on most residential streets, but not between the hours of 2 and 6 a.m.

If you decide to drive to your friend's party and plan on drinking or staying, see if your friend has an extra parking space you can use.

But just because your car is off the street doesn't mean it has full reign of the property. Cars may not be parked in a yard, off the designated driveway or in an alley. Not even your tire can be on the grass, said Annette Irwin, operations administrator for the city's Code Enforcement and Neighborhood Conservation Department.

There are parking structures, but be careful about leaving your car there more than 24 hours — it can be deemed "abandoned" and impounded.

Since many apartments or houses provide limited parking, many students choose to lease spots in parking structures or city lots.

"They're not conveniently placed," said social work sophomore Lyndsay McGarry. She lives in an apartment and leases a spot in a city lot behind the Peoples Church, 200 W. Grand River Avenue.

Partying

Between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., "unlawful noise," which is basically anything that is loud and obnoxious enough to warrant a complaint, can result in a $250 fine for the first offense of the year, $350 for the second and $500 for the third.

But that's not all. There is a separate ordinance for "party noise."

This is when your gathering has any two of the following characteristics: a common source of alcohol for guests (like a keg), live music from a band or DJ, charges for admission or drinks, more than one person for every 20 square feet of living space or speakers that are outside or face outside. City officials are also considering adding drinking games as an indicator. The penalty for violating the "party noise" ordinance is larger: a $500 or $1000 fine or 3 days in jail.

Even if you are 21, you are not allowed to have open containers of any kind containing alcohol on public property.

House upkeep

Residents have a responsibility to keep their houses in decent shape. This means landlords also have a responsibility to make sure homes are up to code.

Health or safety hazards in your house can mean a fine up to $500 if not taken care of. If the home is falling apart in any way, or if there is something structurally unsound, tell your landlord and make sure it is fixed, the East Lansing city code suggests.

As a tenant, you are not held responsible for snow shoveling, grass cutting or leaf removal if your landlord does not provide the proper equipment for this, such as rakes, shovels or a lawnmower, Irwin said. Ask about this before signing your lease, or if you already have, read it over, she said. You are also responsible to clear your sidewalk of snow or garbage within 24 hours.

As cool as it sounds to set up a living room in your yard or on your porch, according to city code, no inside furniture is allowed outside.

Safety

Staying safe in your new place does not only mean locking the doors at night. Fire is a hazard that students commonly forget about.

Students rarely think to check their smoke detectors, said Bob Pratt, East Lansing's fire marshal. Landlords must provide working smoke detectors to all residents. If your landlord will not repair or replace yours, call the East Lansing Fire Department.

Pratt estimates that 40-50 percent of fires in East Lansing are at students' residences. He said there are three major factors that contribute to this: disabled detectors, alcohol and risky behavior.

"Most students think that it can't, or won't, happen to them," he said.

Overoccupancy is also a big fire hazard. According to fire code, no one is allowed to live in basement rooms, attics, garages or anywhere else that is considered a "non-habitable space."

Habitable spaces must have two forms of escape, like a big window and a door. So if your apartment is only allowed four people, do not try to sneak in five.