Bakersfield, CA Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Abandoned vehicle enforcement in Bakersfield is authorized by California Vehicle Code §§22650–22710 and administered through the Bakersfield Police Department Abandoned Vehicle Abatement (AVA) unit, supported by the countywide Kern Service Authority for the Abatement of Abandoned Vehicles. Under CVC §22669, any vehicle on a public street that is wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative can be removed by the city without the 72-hour waiting period that applies to operable vehicles. On private property, BMC Chapter 8.80 and CVC §22660 allow the city to declare an inoperable or unregistered vehicle stored in public view a public nuisance and to abate it after notice to the owner. Typical triggers include expired registration tags over 6 months old, flat tires, missing major components, or visible damage preventing operation. The process generally runs: (1) officer tags the vehicle with a 72-hour or 10-day notice depending on location; (2) owner opportunity to move or repair; (3) if unresolved, the vehicle is towed to a city-contracted lien yard; (4) registered owner receives a stored-vehicle notice with redemption rights and fees. Tow fees, storage charges ($60–$80/day typical), and administrative costs can be placed as a lien on the title, and the vehicle may be sold at auction if unclaimed. Residents can report abandoned vehicles through the Bakersfield Ask Bakersfield app or by calling the AVA unit. Storing even a registered but inoperable vehicle in a residential front yard or driveway visible from the street can trigger nuisance citations under BMC Title 17.