Dearborn follows MCL 257.252 for abandoned vehicles. A vehicle left unattended on public property for 48 hours or on private property without consent can be tagged, towed, and sold at auction.
Dearborn enforces the Michigan abandoned vehicle statute at MCL 257.252. A vehicle is considered abandoned if it is left on a public highway or public property for 48 hours, left on private property without the owner permission for 48 hours, or is scrapped, wrecked, or inoperative for 7 days or more on public property. Dearborn Police tag the vehicle with an abandoned vehicle sticker, and if not moved the vehicle is towed to a police-authorized impound. The registered owner is notified by mail and has 20 days to redeem the vehicle by paying tow and storage fees. Unredeemed vehicles are sold at public auction. On private property (apartment lots, driveways), the property owner may request a tow directly through a Dearborn-authorized towing company after following notice procedures. Inoperative or junk vehicles stored in residential yards are also a zoning violation under Chapter 12 of the City Code.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Dearborn, MI
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Wayne County.
See how other cities in Wayne County handle abandoned vehicles.
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