Berkeley tows vehicles left over 72 hours on public streets under CVC 22651(k) and removes abandoned vehicles from private property under the Abandoned Vehicle Abatement program.
Berkeley Municipal Code Chapter 14.36 together with California Vehicle Code 22651(k) authorizes removal of any vehicle parked on a public street for more than 72 consecutive hours. Residents can report suspected abandoned vehicles by calling Berkeley Police Parking Enforcement or submitting online requests; officers mark tires and return after 72 hours to verify non-movement before towing. On private property, inoperable or abandoned vehicles are addressed under BMC Chapter 14.44 (Abandoned Vehicle Abatement) which authorizes removal of wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles visible from public right-of-way. Property owners receive 10-day notice before removal. Vehicle owners have the right to a post-storage hearing under CVC 22852. Registered owners pay towing and storage fees to reclaim vehicles, typically 300-600 dollars plus daily storage.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley has no municipal ordinance limiting lawn ornaments, statues, or yard art on private property. HOA architectural guidelines under the Davis-Stirling ...
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley has no municipal ordinance limiting inflatable holiday decorations on private property. HOA architectural rules under the Davis-Stirling Act apply i...
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley has no municipal ordinance limiting holiday lights on private residential property. Restrictions come from HOA architectural rules under the Davis-S...
Berkeley, CA
Permanent outdoor kitchens in Berkeley require building, plumbing, electrical, and/or gas permits under BMC Chapter 19.28 (Building Code) when they include u...
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley treats outdoor smokers as open-flame cooking devices under California Fire Code 308.1.4 as adopted in BMC 19.48. Multifamily balcony setbacks (10 ft...
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley enforces the California Fire Code (CFC) as adopted in BMC Chapter 19.48. CFC 308.1.4 prohibits open-flame cooking on combustible balconies or within...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Alameda County.
See how other cities in Alameda County handle abandoned vehicles.
See how Berkeley's abandoned vehicles rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.