Bartow County, GA Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Unlicensed vehicle storage
- Enclosed building or licensed junk yard only
- Removal from public property
- After five days
- Removal from private property
- After 30 days
- Governing state law
- Georgia Code Chapter 40-11
- Off-road exception
- Operable vehicles not requiring a plate
Summary
Unincorporated Bartow County bans an unlicensed vehicle, boat or trailer on any property unless it sits in a fully enclosed building or a licensed junk yard. An inoperative, junked or abandoned vehicle whose owner cannot be found gets removed under state law: five days on public property, 30 days on private property.
6.12.1 No automobile, vehicle (including but not limited to motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, and campers), watercraft (including but not limited to boats and jet skis), or trailer of any kind or type, without a valid license plate attached thereto, shall be parked or stand on any residentially-zoned property or other zoned property unless it shall be in a completely enclosed building or on property properly zoned as a junk yard, or on property zoned under Section 7.12.8(C) of the Zoning Ordinance, except for such off-road vehicles which by law do not require a license plate, provided the same is in operating condition. ... 6.12. ... 6 In all instances where the owner of any abandoned, inoperative, or junk motor vehicle and/or trailer cannot be determined, or when such vehicle is abandoned on public property or a non-owner's property, such junk or abandoned motor vehicle and/or trailer shall be removed under the authority and provisions of Chapter 40-11 of the Georgia Code Annotated. If on public property, such vehicle may be removed after five days; if on private property, it may be removed after 30 days.
Full Breakdown
12 of the Zoning Ordinance covers any automobile, motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle, camper, boat, jet ski or trailer that lacks a valid license plate. None of those can be parked or stand on residentially-zoned or other zoned property in unincorporated Bartow County unless the vehicle sits inside a completely enclosed building or on property properly zoned as a junk yard; the only carve-out is for off-road vehicles that do not legally require a plate, as long as they are operable. A separate rule covers vehicles that are inoperative or in junk condition even if they carry a plate: those can only sit outdoors if they are on the premises of a lawfully operated business that needs them, or on property zoned and used for vehicle repair, reconditioning or remodeling.
When code enforcement cannot track down the owner of an abandoned, inoperative or junk vehicle, or the vehicle sits abandoned on public land or someone else's private property, the county removes it under Chapter 40-11 of the Georgia Code Annotated. A vehicle abandoned on public property can be towed after just five days; one left on private property gets a 30-day window before removal.
Violations & Fines
Parking an unlicensed vehicle, boat, camper or trailer outside a fully enclosed building or a licensed junk yard is a Section 6.12 violation Bartow County code enforcement can cite on any zoned property, residential or not. If the owner cannot be found, the county can remove the vehicle under Georgia Code Chapter 40-11: after five days if it sits on public property, after 30 days if it sits on private property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep an unlicensed car in my driveway in Bartow County?
How fast can the county remove an abandoned car from my street?
Does this rule cover boats and off-road vehicles too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bartow County
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