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Coweta County, GA Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Notice period
30 calendar days to remedy or request hearing
Hearing officer
Chief building official
County removal
After 30 days unremedied, at owner's expense
Lien interest
8 percent per year on unpaid costs
2nd citation penalty
$250.00 administrative penalty
3rd citation penalty
$500.00 administrative penalty
Magistrate court fine
Up to $1,000.00 per violation

Summary

Leaving an abandoned or junked vehicle, along with rubbish, refuse, or unsightly material, on any real property in unincorporated Coweta County violates Code of Ordinances Sec. 42-6(b), whether the lot is developed or vacant. Code enforcement posts and mails a 30-day notice, and if the owner does not clean up or request a hearing, the county can remove the vehicle itself, lien the property for the cost, and add escalating penalties for repeat citations.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Coweta County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

(b)Accumulation of trash, weeds, and junked vehicles. It shall be unlawful for the owner or tenant of any real property, whether developed or undeveloped, in the county to permit or cause the accumulation or presence of any rubbish, trash, refuse, litter, unsightly materials or abandoned vehicles on any real property in the county; any such accumulation or presence of the aforesaid materials are hereby declared a nuisance. ... (f)(2)If a second citation is issued against the same owner within 12 months from the date of the first citation and the county pursues the abatement of the nuisance pursuant to paragraphs (c) through (e) of this Code section, an administrative penalty of $250.00 shall additionally be assessed at the time of the second citation. If a third citation is issued against the same owner within 12 months from the date of the first citation and the county pursues the abatement of the nuisance pursuant to paragraphs (c) through (e) of this Code section, an administrative penalty of $500.00 shall additionally be assessed at the time of the third citation.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 40).

Full Breakdown

Sec. 42-6(b) of the Coweta County Code of Ordinances makes it unlawful for an owner or tenant of any real property, developed or undeveloped, to let rubbish, trash, refuse, litter, unsightly material, or an abandoned vehicle accumulate or sit on the property, and it declares that accumulation a nuisance outright. A code enforcement officer who has reason to believe a violation exists must notify the owner both by physically posting the property and by certified mail or personal delivery to the address on the county's tax records; the notice has to identify the owner, describe the property and the violation, and give the owner 30 calendar days to fix it.

That same notice warns the owner that if the county ends up remedying the condition itself, the county will bill the actual cost plus an administrative charge, place a lien on the property if the bill goes 30 days unpaid, and that the owner can request a hearing before the chief building official within the 30-day window to argue the condition is not actually a violation. If nobody asks for a hearing and the vehicle or debris is still there after 30 days, the county can remove it at the owner's expense; if a hearing is held and goes against the owner, the county can act after 72 hours unless the county administrator says otherwise.

Unpaid costs become a lien recorded with the clerk of superior court, accruing interest at eight percent a year. 00, on top of the actual removal cost. 00, with every day the vehicle remains a separate offense.

Violations & Fines

Letting an abandoned vehicle or trash sit on the property after the 30-day notice period, without a hearing or a fix, lets the county remove the vehicle at the owner's expense and place an 8-percent-interest lien on the property. A second citation within 12 months adds a $250.00 administrative penalty and a third adds $500.00; alternatively, the county can prosecute repeat violations in magistrate court for up to $1,000.00 per offense, with each day a separate violation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it illegal to leave a junked car on my property in Coweta County?
Yes. Sec. 42-6(b) makes it unlawful for an owner or tenant of any real property, developed or undeveloped, to let an abandoned vehicle, rubbish, refuse, or unsightly material accumulate anywhere on the property, and the ordinance declares that accumulation a nuisance outright regardless of whether the vehicle is visible from the street.
How much notice do I get before Coweta County removes my vehicle?
Code enforcement must physically post the property and send certified mail or personal delivery to the owner of record, and the notice gives 30 calendar days either to clean up the property or request a hearing before the chief building official contesting the violation before the county can step in.
What does it cost if the county has to remove the vehicle for me?
You pay the actual removal cost plus an administrative charge, and if you do not pay within 30 days of the invoice, the county places a lien on the property that accrues interest at eight percent a year until paid, recorded with the clerk of superior court.
What happens if I get cited more than once?
Repeat citations cost more. A second citation against the same owner within 12 months adds a $250.00 administrative penalty on top of removal costs, a third adds $500.00, and the county can instead prosecute repeat violations in magistrate court for a fine of up to $1,000.00 per offense, with each day counted separately.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Coweta County

All Coweta County rules

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