East Orange, NJ Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Abandonment threshold
- 30+ days without storage arrangement
- Property owner duty
- Notify Chief of Police
- Written notice before city removal
- 10 days
- Emergency hazard hold period
- At least 15 days
- Temporary disrepair allowance
- Up to 10 days
- Max penalty
- $2,000 fine, 90 days jail/community service
- Unpaid removal cost
- Becomes a property lien
Summary
City Code Chapter 175, Article II bans abandoning a motor vehicle, or storing one in substantial disrepair in the open, on any public or private property in East Orange. Property owners who find one must notify the Chief of Police; if the registered owner does not remove it after 10 days' written notice, the City arranges removal and bills the cost as a lien.
No person shall abandon or permit the abandonment on public or private property within the City of any motor vehicle owned by him or under his control or in his possession at the time of abandonment or, except as provided in this article, cause any abandoned vehicle or vehicle in a state of substantial disrepair to be stored in the open. ... No person shall permit any abandoned motor vehicle to remain on any property owned by him or in his possession or under his control or, except as provided in this article, store or permit the storage of any abandoned vehicle or vehicle in a state of substantial disrepair in the open.
Full Breakdown
Sections 175-12 and 175-13 separately bar a vehicle's owner from abandoning it, or permitting its abandonment, on public or private property, and bar a property owner from permitting an abandoned vehicle or one in a state of substantial disrepair to remain stored in the open on land they own or control. 'Abandoned vehicle' under § 175-11 means one the owner has left on open land for at least 30 days without arranging storage with the property owner or occupant, or one the owner has otherwise clearly indicated an intent to give up.
A property owner who discovers such a vehicle must notify the Chief of Police with the year, make, model and, if known, registration and serial number, so the City can determine whether it qualifies for disposal under N.J.S.A. 40A:14-157. If the vehicle can no longer be self-propelled and falls outside Division of Motor Vehicles jurisdiction, § 175-15 puts removal on the property owner through a private contractor; if the owner does not comply within 10 days of written notice, the Chief of Police arranges removal and the owner is jointly and severally liable for the cost, which becomes a lien on the property under § 159-43 if unpaid.
Vehicles in a merely temporary state of disrepair may sit in the open for up to 10 days under § 175-18, and immediate hazards can be removed by the Chief of Police on short notice and held at least 15 days under § 175-17.
Violations & Fines
Violating any provision of Chapter 175, Article II, including leaving an abandoned or substantially disrepaired vehicle in the open, is punishable by a fine of up to $2,000, up to 90 days' imprisonment, and up to 90 days of community service under § 175-20. Removal costs the City incurs after 10 days' unheeded notice are billed to the property owner and become a lien on the property if not paid on demand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as an 'abandoned vehicle' under East Orange's code?
Who has to remove an abandoned vehicle left on my East Orange property?
How long can a wrecked car sit in my yard in East Orange?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in East Orange
Compare East Orange to another location·View the New Jersey parking rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Abandoned Vehicles in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Essex County handle abandoned vehicles.