Charleston, SC Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Chapter 14, Article III defines and bans vehicle abandonment. Section 14-31 sets four independent triggers: a vehicle without a current license plate that is partially dismantled, wrecked, or otherwise incapable of self-propulsion counts as abandoned regardless of location; a vehicle left on private property without the consent of the owner, occupant or lessee becomes abandoned after 24 consecutive hours; a vehicle left on a public street, highway or city parking garage becomes abandoned after 7 consecutive days; and a vehicle left on other city-owned or -operated property becomes abandoned after 24 consecutive hours.

Section 14-32 then bars two things: abandoning a vehicle on a public street, public grounds or private property, and, separately, a person who controls private property from permitting an abandoned or unsafe vehicle to remain there, so a property owner can be liable even if someone else dumped the car. Section 14-33 lets the police department, or whoever the city designates, tow an abandoned vehicle to storage; a vehicle abandoned only because it sat more than 24 hours on private property cannot be towed from that private property without the written request or consent of the owner, lessee or occupant, unless city council separately declares it a health or safety hazard after notice and a hearing before the public works and utilities committee.

Under Section 14-34, an unclaimed vehicle can be sold after 20 days' notice to the Department of Motor Vehicles and after being held at least 30 days, once three disinterested dealers or garagemen appraise its value.