Charles County, MD Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Section 297-29B(13) governs inoperable and untagged vehicles stored outside on any lot in Charles County. It caps storage at a maximum of one untagged or inoperable motor vehicle per lot unless the vehicle is kept inside a completely enclosed building. The ordinance defines 'inoperable' precisely: a vehicle with any major part, equipment, or component necessary for operation removed and not replaced for at least fifteen days, per § 297-29B(13)(b); a vehicle that remains untagged but stays in running condition is not treated as inoperable. Storage conditions under § 297-29B(13)(c) require the vehicle to sit on a hard surface resistant to erosion and treated to prevent dust, such as concrete, asphalt, blue stone, or gravel.

The vehicle must be covered with a manufactured vehicle cover except during active maintenance, per § 297-29B(13)(d), and cannot be parked within six feet of the property line unless it is on a legally established driveway, per § 297-29B(13)(e); parking on any public roadway or common/public parking area is barred outright at any time. Vehicles used in bona fide agricultural operations and stored on-site are exempt from the whole subsection under § 297-29B(13)(f).