Cowlitz County, WA Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Nuisance threshold
- 3 or more junk vehicles visible
- Visibility radius
- Within 1,000 feet
- Abatement deadline
- 15 days from notice
- Governing chapter
- CCC 10.27 Junk Vehicles
- Lien duration
- Up to 10 years
- Appeal venue
- Cowlitz County Superior Court, 20 days
Summary
In unincorporated Cowlitz County, keeping three or more junk vehicles visible from a street, road, or other property within 1,000 feet is declared a public nuisance under CCC § 10.27.040, unless an exemption in CCC § 10.27.050 applies, such as full enclosure or an 8-foot sight-blocking fence.
The storing or keeping of three or more junk vehicles where such vehicles, or parts thereof, are visible from a public or private street or road or from other public or private property located within 1,000 feet of the subject junk vehicle(s), other than that of the last registered junk vehicle owner or a landowner on whose property the junk vehicle is stored, is declared to be a public nuisance, except as provided in CCC § 10.27.050.
Full Breakdown
27, was adopted by Ord. 240. 030: it is three years old or older; it is extensively damaged, including a broken window or windshield or missing wheels, tires, motor, or transmission; it is apparently inoperable; or its fair market value equals only the value of its scrap. 040 declares a nuisance when three or more such vehicles, or parts of them, are visible from a public or private street or road or from other property within 1,000 feet, other than that of the registered owner or landowner.
050 exempts vehicles fully enclosed in a building, stored on a licensed dismantler's or dealer's fenced lot, a single parts car dismantled within 180 days of purchase, one inoperable vehicle actively being restored, or vehicles screened by a fence or hedge at least eight feet tall. 070 requires written notice to the landowner and last registered owner ordering abatement within 15 days. 090; if the hearing shows the vehicle was placed without the landowner's consent, the county will not charge that landowner for removal.
Violations & Fines
Failure to abate within 15 days triggers a notice of infraction under CCC § 10.27.100 pursuant to Chapter 2.06 CCC, and the county may take possession of and dispose of the vehicle. CCC § 10.27.110 makes the landowner and/or last registered owner personally liable for all removal, storage, transport, and disposal costs plus legal fees, and lets the Prosecuting Attorney file a property lien that stays enforceable for up to 10 years. Decisions may be appealed to Cowlitz County Superior Court within 20 days under CCC § 10.27.120.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many old vehicles can I keep on my property in unincorporated Cowlitz County?
Can I avoid a violation by fencing my junk vehicles?
What happens if I ignore the county's abatement notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cowlitz County
Compare Cowlitz County to another location·View the Washington parking rules overview
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