Erie, PA Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 529.01 (Abandoned vehicles)
- Penalty
- $50 fine plus disposal costs
- Vehicle owner notice
- 5 days to remove
- Property owner notice
- 45 days to remove
- Hearing fee
- $15, requested within 10 days
- Emergency removal
- No notice if imminently dangerous
Summary
Erie forbids leaving a wrecked, junked, stripped or abandoned vehicle on private property where it creates a hazard, and holds both the vehicle owner and the property owner responsible. The Director of Public Safety must give notice and an opportunity for a hearing before the vehicle is forcibly removed.
No person shall park, store or leave any motor vehicle of any kind in a wrecked, junked, stripped or abandoned condition, in a place where its presence constitutes a hazard on private property, and no owner of such motor vehicle, or the owner or occupant of any property, shall allow, permit or suffer the same to be left upon any privately owned property, unless the same be authorized in conjunction with a business property operated, pursuant to the zoning laws and other laws of the City. ... Whoever violates Section 529.01 is guilty of a summary offense and shall be fined $50 plus costs of disposing of the vehicle.
Full Breakdown
01 prohibits parking, storing or leaving any motor vehicle in a wrecked, junked, stripped or abandoned condition on private property where its presence is a hazard, and it bars property owners and occupants from allowing such a vehicle to remain unless the storage is tied to an authorized business use consistent with the City's zoning laws. 03 if an address cannot be found. 04 lets an affected party request a hearing within 10 days by filing a written request and a $15 fee, after which the Director affirms, withdraws or modifies the removal order.
07 lets the City remove the vehicle itself and place a lien on the property for the cost if the owner still refuses after a 30-day demand. 08 preserves an emergency power: the Director can remove any vehicle without notice at all if it is imminently dangerous and rises to the level of a nuisance threatening life, health, safety or welfare.
Violations & Fines
Section 529.99 makes a Section 529.01 violation a summary offense punishable by a $50 fine plus the costs of disposing of the vehicle, and unpaid removal costs can become a lien against the property under Section 529.07.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Erie force me to remove a junk car from my own yard?
What's the fine for an abandoned vehicle violation in Erie?
Can I appeal a notice to remove an abandoned vehicle?
Can the City tow my car without warning me first?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Erie
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