Burlington, WI Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Section 293-18, last amended August 15, 2006 by Ordinance No. 1801(5), defines an ABANDONED VEHICLE as any vehicle left unattended on a street or highway, or on public or private property, without the owner's or lawful occupant's permission, for more than 48 hours; UNATTENDED means unmoved with no obvious sign of continuous human use. Subsection C(1) makes it unlawful to leave a vehicle unattended on any public street, highway, or private or public property under circumstances that make it reasonably appear abandoned, and Subsection C(3) separately bars leaving an unregistered vehicle, one lacking current plates or a temporary operation permit for more than 31 days past expiration, on any public street or highway.

Subsection C(2) adds a private-property rule: no vehicle may stand more than 21 consecutive days unless it is currently registered to the property owner, a legal resident, or immediate family living there, is currently licensed, and is operational, and no vehicle may sit with its wheels removed for more than 21 consecutive days either. Subsection B(2) creates a 48-hour presumption: a vehicle is presumed unattended if a traffic ticket placed on its windshield is still there and the vehicle has not moved 48 hours later.

Sworn Police Department officers may remove any vehicle whose location endangers public safety or significantly hinders traffic under Subsection E, and under Subsection F may tow and impound abandoned or unregistered vehicles to a City-appointed towing agency's lot. Exceptions in Subsection D cover vehicles in an enclosed building, on a licensed junk storage premises in compliance with zoning, in a paid parking space, or any vehicle the Chief of Police designates as not abandoned or unregistered despite sitting 48 hours.