Albany, NY Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Grace period
- 1 week on private property
- Removal notice
- 10 days after posted notice
- Reclaim window
- 10 days, owner pays towing
- Business exception
- vehicles needed for business use
- Unclaimed outcome
- forfeited, sold as scrap
Summary
Albany makes it unlawful to park, store, or abandon a junk vehicle on private property for more than one week, with police-ordered removal and forfeiture to follow.
It shall be unlawful to park, store or leave in the open or to abandon a junk vehicle upon private property for a period of more than one week except as permitted by license pursuant to § 136 of the General Municipal Law as enacted by Chapter 1040 of the Laws of 1965, unless the same is necessary for the operation of a business enterprise lawfully upon said premises.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4873446; v61 updated 2026-03-18; through 03-18-2026).
Full Breakdown
City Code Article VI (§§ 359-65 to 359-70) declares abandoned, junked, dismantled, or unregistered inoperative vehicles on private property a public nuisance. After the one-week limit, an officer serves notice to remove or shelter the vehicle; if it remains 10 days later, police tow it to the police garage. The owner has 10 more days to reclaim it by paying towing costs, after which ownership is forfeited and the City may sell it as scrap.
Violations & Fines
No fine schedule stated; the vehicle itself is towed to the police garage after notice, and forfeited for sale as scrap if unclaimed after 10 days, with the owner liable for towing and removal charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a junk vehicle sit on private property in Albany?
What happens after Albany police notify the owner?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Albany
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Abandoned Vehicles in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Albany County handle abandoned vehicles.