Buena Park, CA Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Buena Park addresses abandoned and inoperable vehicles primarily through its Code Enforcement program and the Zoning Code, backed by the California Vehicle Code. The city's Vehicle & Property Maintenance guidance explains that vehicles left abandoned, dismantled, or wrecked, including vehicles with missing engine parts or flat tires, are considered inoperable when they are located in public view, and Code Enforcement encourages residents either to repair them or to remove them from public view. The Zoning Code further requires that all vehicles be parked within a garage, carport, or upon an approved paved driveway, which means inoperable vehicles cannot simply be stored on a lawn or unpaved area in public view. On public streets, two state-law tools apply. California Vehicle Code Section 22523 makes it unlawful to abandon a vehicle on any highway or on public or private property without consent, with a fine of not less than $100 plus removal costs on conviction. Separately, a vehicle left parked on a city street beyond Buena Park's 72-hour limit (Chapter 10.24) may be marked, cited, and towed as presumptively abandoned. Residents who spot a likely abandoned vehicle on a city street or alley are directed to contact Code Enforcement or the Police Department, who coordinate abatement and removal. Inoperable vehicles on private property are handled as a code-enforcement nuisance rather than a parking ticket.