Cranston, RI Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Storage license
- Required for junked vehicle storage
- Removal notice
- 7 days from tagging
- Fine
- $50.00 per violation
- Redemption window
- 7 days after towing
- Appeal
- Hearing before municipal court judge
Summary
Cranston bars storing a dismantled, junked or inoperable vehicle in the open on any public or private property without a city storage license. Police tag violators, give a 7-day removal notice, then tow at the owner's expense and levy a $50 fine for noncompliance.
No person, firm or corporation shall deposit, store, keep or permit to be deposited, stored or kept in the open upon public or private property a dismantled, junked or inoperable vehicle, unless a license for such storage has theretofore been obtained from a proper authority.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4824304; v14 updated 2026-05-18).
Full Breakdown
Cranston Code § 10.20.030 makes it unlawful to deposit, store or keep in the open, on public or private property, a dismantled, junked or inoperable vehicle unless a storage license has been obtained from a proper authority. Under § 10.20.040, an officer who spots a violation enters the premises, records the VIN, and checks for stolen status and the registered owner. Section 10.20.050 requires a notice affixed to the vehicle giving 7 days to remove it, with a right to a municipal court hearing to contest the finding. If it isn't removed, § 10.20.060 has police or a licensed tow company haul it to an authorized garage, redeemable within another 7 days per § 10.20.070. Failure to remove draws a $50 fine under § 10.20.080.
Violations & Fines
$50 fine for failing to remove a tagged vehicle within 7 days of notice; police or a licensed tow company then tow it to an authorized garage at the owner's expense, with redemption due within a further 7 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I store a junked or wrecked car in my yard in Cranston?
What happens if I ignore a violation notice on my vehicle?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cranston
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Abandoned Vehicles in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle abandoned vehicles.