Cumberland County, ME Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Cumberland County does not adopt a separate abandoned-vehicle code; the governing law is Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 29-A § 1854 (Notification of vehicle owner). Under § 1854, a property owner, repair facility, or storage facility in possession of an abandoned vehicle must give written notice to the Secretary of State on a state-provided form. Auto repair or storage businesses must file the notice within 14 days after the earliest date on which the owner became responsible for any unpaid charges. The notice must identify the make, model, year, body type, VIN, registration, license plates, the date possession began, the circumstances of possession, and any salvage status. The Secretary of State then notifies the registered owner and any lienholder by regular mail. If no record exists, the possessor must publish a description of the vehicle in a local newspaper, and ownership may transfer 14 days after publication if the vehicle is not claimed and charges are not paid. Removal of an abandoned vehicle from a public way is authorized under Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 29-A § 2074 by State Police, Cumberland County Sheriff's deputies, or municipal officers. Cities and towns in the county (Portland Code Ch. 28; South Portland; Westbrook) may set shorter time-on-public-street thresholds (often 24 or 72 hours) under home-rule authority, but the underlying paperwork process is § 1854.