Abandoned Vehicles
Parking Rules
How cities define and handle abandoned or inoperable vehicles on private property and public streets, including removal timelines.
How Abandoned Vehicles Rules Differ by Place
Oro Valley, AZ: Oro Valley Abandoned Vehicle Enforcement
Heavy RestrictionsVehicles left on public streets over 72 hours or inoperable on private property visible from public view are subject to tagging, towing, and lien under Town Code Ch. 10.
Surprise, AZ: Surprise Abandoned Vehicle Rules
Heavy RestrictionsSurprise prohibits abandoned, inoperable, or junk vehicles on public streets and visible on private property. Vehicles without current registration or that are clearly inoperable must…
Monterey County, CA: Monterey County Abandoned Vehicles
Heavy RestrictionsMonterey County Code Chapter 12.72 (Abandoned Vehicles) makes it unlawful to leave an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle on private or public property more than 30…
Birmingham, AL: Birmingham Impounds Abandoned Cars on Private Land
Some RestrictionsBirmingham declares lost, stolen or abandoned automobiles left on private parking lots or land to be health and safety hazards and public nuisances, letting police impound and store…
Hoover, AL: Hoover Abandoned Vehicle Removal Rules
Some RestrictionsHoover caps residential lots at two inoperable vehicles and declares any unscreened extra a public nuisance subject to city notice, hearing, and forced removal under Code § 8.5-13.
Huntsville, AL: Huntsville Abandoned Vehicle Ban
Some RestrictionsLeaving an inoperable or unlicensed vehicle on a Huntsville street or other public property is a code violation. The city can tag it, tow it after notice, and fine the owner.
Abandoned Vehicles Rules by State
Statewide law governs this topic in many states. Each entry links to that state's full page.
Alabama
Some RestrictionsAlabama law sets statewide procedures for handling abandoned vehicles, requiring notice to owners, lienholders, and the Department of Revenue before any sale or title transfer can…
Alaska
Some RestrictionsAlaska Statute 28.11 sets statewide procedures for removing, storing, notifying owners of, and disposing of abandoned vehicles. Municipalities handle local enforcement, but the state…
Arizona
Some RestrictionsArizona Revised Statutes Title 28 establishes uniform statewide procedures for abandoned vehicle reporting, towing, notice to owners, and disposal through licensed agents.
Arkansas
Some RestrictionsArkansas law governs how abandoned, unclaimed, or junked vehicles are handled statewide. State statutes authorize towing, impoundment, lien procedures, and eventual sale or destruction…
California
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Vehicle Code sections 22651 and 22669 set uniform rules allowing peace officers and authorized agents to remove abandoned vehicles from public and private property after…
Colorado
Some RestrictionsColorado defines and regulates abandoned vehicles under a uniform statewide statute that controls tow authorization, owner notice, auction procedures, and lien recovery for towing…
Connecticut
Some RestrictionsConnecticut state law defines abandoned motor vehicles and authorizes police and municipalities to remove them. Vehicles left on public property over 24 hours, or on private property…
Delaware
Some RestrictionsDelaware Code Title 21, Chapter 44 sets statewide procedures for declaring, posting, towing, and disposing of abandoned vehicles on public and private property. State Police, county…
District of Columbia
Some RestrictionsThe District treats a vehicle as abandoned after 48 hours on public space or 30 days on private property if it is inoperable, harbors pests, or lacks valid tags. DPW inspectors tag it…
Florida
Some RestrictionsFlorida Statutes Chapters 705 and 715 establish uniform procedures for declaring vehicles abandoned, providing notice, and disposing of them through licensed wreckers.
Hawaii
Some RestrictionsHawaii statutorily defines abandoned vehicles and authorizes counties to remove them under uniform standards. State law sets timelines, notice requirements, owner liability, and…
Idaho
Some RestrictionsIdaho Code Title 49 Chapter 18 establishes uniform rules for abandoned vehicles statewide. Abandoning a vehicle on any highway, public, or private property without consent is…
Illinois
Some RestrictionsThe Illinois Vehicle Code establishes uniform procedures for declaring, towing, and disposing of abandoned vehicles on public and private property across all jurisdictions in the state.
Indiana
Some RestrictionsIndiana Code Title 9, Article 22, Chapter 1 establishes a uniform statewide framework for identifying, towing, storing, and disposing of abandoned vehicles, applicable on public and…
Iowa
Some RestrictionsIowa Code sections 321.89 through 321.91 set the statewide framework for declaring, removing, and disposing of abandoned vehicles. Cities and counties enforce the law but cannot…
Kansas
Some RestrictionsKansas regulates abandoned vehicles statewide under K.S.A. 8-1102, defining when vehicles become abandoned and authorizing law enforcement removal, towing, and disposition through…
Kentucky
Some RestrictionsKentucky law presumes any vehicle left on a county road or city street for three consecutive days to be abandoned, exposing the owner to a fine of $25 to $100 or ten to thirty days in…
Louisiana
Some RestrictionsLouisiana Revised Statutes Title 32, Chapter 5-A (R.S. 32:1711 et seq.) establish the statewide framework for removing, storing, and disposing of abandoned vehicles. Local governments…
Maine
Some RestrictionsPer 29-A MRS § 1854, a property owner or auto-repair/storage facility holding an abandoned vehicle must notify the Maine Secretary of State within 14 days, identify lienholders, and…
Maryland
Some RestrictionsMaryland Transportation Article Title 25 Subtitle 2 establishes uniform procedures for identifying, removing, storing, and disposing of abandoned vehicles, allowing local enforcement…
Massachusetts
Some RestrictionsMassachusetts General Laws Chapter 90 Section 22C governs removal and disposal of abandoned motor vehicles statewide, setting uniform procedures that apply on public ways and private…
Michigan
Some RestrictionsMichigan's Vehicle Code establishes uniform statewide procedures for declaring, towing, and disposing of abandoned vehicles, preempting most local rules.
Minnesota
Some RestrictionsMinnesota Statutes Chapter 168B governs abandoned vehicle definitions, impoundment, notice requirements, and disposal statewide. Local units of government must follow the procedural…
Mississippi
Some RestrictionsUnder Mississippi Code Section 63-23-3, a motor vehicle left unattended on any public street, road, highway, or other public property for at least five days is legally abandoned. It…
Missouri
Some RestrictionsMissouri RSMo 304.155 to 304.158 establishes statewide procedures for towing, storing, and disposing of abandoned vehicles. Law enforcement may authorize removal after specific time…
Montana
Some RestrictionsMontana Title 61, Ch. 12, MCA establishes uniform statewide procedures for declaring vehicles abandoned, towing, lien sales, and title transfer. Local governments must follow state…
Nebraska
Some RestrictionsNebraska law defines an abandoned vehicle as one left more than six hours on public property or more than seven days on private property without consent. State statute provides uniform…
Nevada
Heavy RestrictionsNevada Revised Statutes Chapter 487 governs the removal, storage, and disposition of abandoned vehicles statewide, setting uniform notice, lien, and title procedures that local…
New Hampshire
Some RestrictionsNew Hampshire RSA 262 governs abandoned vehicles statewide, allowing law enforcement and authorized parties to remove vehicles left on public ways or private property without consent…
New Jersey
Some RestrictionsNew Jersey state law universally governs the removal, titling, and disposal of abandoned vehicles, with municipalities required to follow the state procedures and notice requirements…
New Mexico
Some RestrictionsNew Mexico defines an abandoned vehicle as one a law enforcement agency determines has been left unattended on public or private property for at least 30 days, unclaimed and not…
New York
Some RestrictionsNew York Vehicle and Traffic Law sets uniform definitions and removal procedures for abandoned vehicles statewide, governing how police and municipalities take custody of and dispose…
North Carolina
Some RestrictionsNorth Carolina General Statute 20-137.7 and Chapter 160A-303.2 set the framework for declaring and removing abandoned, junked, or nuisance motor vehicles, defining minimum criteria…
North Dakota
Some RestrictionsNorth Dakota Century Code Chapter 23.1-15 sets statewide procedures for removing, storing, titling, and disposing of abandoned motor vehicles. Local law enforcement must follow these…
Ohio
Some RestrictionsOhio Revised Code 4513.60 through 4513.65 establishes a uniform statewide process for removing, storing, and disposing of abandoned junk motor vehicles from public and private…
Oklahoma
Some RestrictionsOklahoma law defines abandoned vehicles and establishes statewide procedures for removal, storage, notice to owners, and lienholder rights. Local agencies must follow state…
Oregon
Some RestrictionsOregon law uniformly governs how abandoned vehicles are tagged, towed, stored, and disposed of statewide. ORS Chapter 819 sets notice, lien, and auction procedures that local agencies…
Pennsylvania
Some RestrictionsPennsylvania Title 75 Chapter 73 governs abandoned vehicles statewide, defining when a vehicle is abandoned and authorizing law enforcement and authorized salvors to remove, store, and…
Rhode Island
Some RestrictionsRhode Island General Laws Chapter 31-42, the Abandoned Motor Vehicles law, sets uniform statewide procedures for declaring, removing, and disposing of abandoned vehicles on public and…
South Dakota
Some RestrictionsPer SDCL 32-30-12, a vehicle left unattended on any public road, highway, or highway right-of-way for longer than 24 hours without notifying the sheriff, highway patrol, or municipal…
Tennessee
Some RestrictionsTennessee Code Title 55 Chapter 16 governs abandoned vehicles statewide, defining when vehicles may be towed, requiring notice to owners, and setting redemption rights that apply…
Texas
Some RestrictionsTexas Transportation Code Chapter 683 declares a motor vehicle abandoned after 48 hours left illegally on public property, unattended on a highway right-of-way, or parked on private…
Utah
Some RestrictionsUtah Code Title 41, Chapter 6a, Part 14 establishes uniform statewide procedures for impounding, noticing, and disposing of abandoned vehicles, with the Motor Vehicle Division managing…
Vermont
Some RestrictionsVermont state law uniformly governs how abandoned motor vehicles are identified, reported, removed, stored, and disposed of, with municipalities required to follow statutory procedures…
Virginia
Some RestrictionsVirginia statutes define abandoned vehicles, authorize removal from public and private property, and govern the lien, sale, and titling process that localities must follow when…
Washington
Some RestrictionsWashington's RCW 46.55 governs how abandoned vehicles are impounded, noticed, redeemed, and auctioned, providing a uniform statewide framework that local jurisdictions must follow.
West Virginia
Some RestrictionsWest Virginia Code §17-24A governs abandoned motor vehicles. A vehicle is 'abandoned' after five days on public property, or after 48 hours on private property without the owner's…
Wisconsin
Some RestrictionsWisconsin law defines abandoned vehicles and authorizes removal after 48 hours on highways or public property. State statute provides uniform procedures for impoundment, notice to…
Wyoming
Some RestrictionsWyoming Statutes Title 31, Chapter 13 govern abandoned vehicles - how police initiate removal, the impound notice process, and how title passes. A police officer may remove a vehicle…
Cities & Counties with Abandoned Vehicles Rules
676 locations
Alabama
California
Colorado
Other Parking Rules Topics
RV & Boat Parking
Where you can park recreational vehicles and boats on your property, including front yard restrictions, screening requirements, and size limits.
Driveway Rules
Requirements for driveway width, materials, and whether you can park on unpaved surfaces or grass in your front yard.
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
Rules about parking work trucks, vans with commercial lettering, and vehicles over a weight or length threshold in residential areas, the thresholds, the exemptions, and the fines.
Street Parking Limits
Time limits for parking on public streets, permit parking zones, and rules about moving your car to avoid tickets.
Overnight Parking
Whether cars can be left on the street overnight, including any permit programs and restrictions during street sweeping hours.
Dibs & Space Saving
Rules about saving shoveled-out parking spots with chairs, cones, or other objects after snowfall, including enforcement and removal timelines.
EV Charging
Rules about installing home EV chargers, running cables across sidewalks, and any incentives or permits required for charging stations.
Curb Color Rules
What red, yellow, white, green, and blue painted curbs mean in your city, who can paint them, and how parking restrictions are enforced.
Loading Zones
Yellow and white loading zone rules, time limits for commercial and passenger loading, and which vehicles qualify as commercial loaders.
Preferential Parking Districts
Permit-only residential parking districts, how they're established, who qualifies for permits, and how visitor passes work.
Snow Removal Parking Rules
On-street parking bans during declared snow events, alternate-side rules for plow access, and tow/fine schedules in snow-belt cities.
Towing & Impound Rights
What a towing company may charge and must do when a vehicle is taken without the owner consenting: capped hookup, mileage and storage rates, the drop fee owed if the driver returns…