Carteret County, NC Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Article III of Chapter 10 defines an 'abandoned motor vehicle' as one 'left on county property in violation of this article for longer than seven days,' per § 10-51. A vehicle becomes 'junked' if it is also partially dismantled or wrecked, cannot move under its own power the way it was designed to, is more than five years old and worth less than $100.00, or lacks a current license plate. Section 10-54 makes it 'unlawful to abandon motor vehicles or to leave junked motor vehicles on any county property,' and enforcement officials may remove a violating vehicle to a storage area under § 10-55, posting notice on the vehicle and mailing written notice to the registered owner at the address on file with the NC Division of Motor Vehicles.

The county holds an unclaimed abandoned vehicle 30 days before selling it at public auction if it's worth $100.00 or more, per § 10-56, or may destroy or privately sell a junked vehicle worth less after 15 days under § 10-57. Sale proceeds pay removal, storage, investigation and lien costs first, with any remainder going to the owner for 60 days before it reverts to the county's general fund. This article governs county-owned property specifically, such as the Harkers Island Harbor of Refuge and county parking areas, rather than private yards generally.