Albuquerque, NM Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Article 5 of Chapter 8 (Traffic Code), Part 2 of Albuquerque's Code of Ordinances governs abandoned and inoperable vehicles. Under Section 8-5-2-3 a vehicle is deemed abandoned when it (a) is parked on any street, alley, or public way and displays no current license plate or validating sticker; (b) is left unattended on any public way in the same place for 36 hours without a valid police sticker; (c) is left on private property without the owner's, tenant's, or occupant's consent for 24 hours; or (d) at a private residence is not lawfully parked on a driveway for at least 36 hours. Section 8-5-2-9 separately makes any inoperable vehicle parked, stored, or left on private property within the city for more than three consecutive days a public nuisance. Reports are filed through the city's 311 system, the Report Abandoned Vehicles online portal at cabq.gov/report-abandoned-vehicles, or by calling 311 from inside Albuquerque. A Solid Waste Management Department enforcement officer or APD officer inspects the vehicle and, if it qualifies, affixes a yellow notification tag. The owner has 7 consecutive days from the day the tag is affixed to remove the vehicle or request a hearing under Section 8-5-2-3, after which Section 8-5-2-4 authorizes summary impoundment by APD or any city officer authorized to enforce parking laws.