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Eugene, OR Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

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

Key Facts

Governing section
EC 6.800
Storage limit
48 hours, unlicensed or expired plate
Junk material limit
30 days if visible from street
Exemption
I-3 district or licensed used-vehicle lot
Max fine
$200 under EC 6.992

Summary

Eugene bars storing an unlicensed or expired-plate vehicle in view from the street for more than 48 hours outside an I-3 industrial district or a licensed used-vehicle dealer's lot, and treats the violation as both a citable offense and an abatable nuisance under EC 6.800.

(1) Except in an I-3 Heavy Industrial District no person shall store or permit to be stored used building supplies, scrap, junk, used furniture, used plumbing supplies or fixtures, used electrical supplies, fixtures or appliances in any manner as to expose it to view from a street or sidewalk adjoining the premises for a period of more than 30 days. (2) No person shall store or permit to be stored for 48 hours a used motor vehicle or portion thereof without a license plate or with an expired license plate on any private or public property unless the vehicle is placed so as not to be exposed to view from a street or sidewalk adjoining the premises or unless it is stored on the premises of a business enterprise dealing in used vehicles lawfully conducted within the city.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 20739, passed June 8, 2026).

Full Breakdown

800 (current through Ordinance 20739, passed June 8, 2026) targets two related conditions. First, outside an I-3 Heavy Industrial District, no one may store or allow storage of used building supplies, scrap, junk, used furniture, or used plumbing, electrical or other fixtures in a way that exposes them to view from an adjoining street or sidewalk for more than 30 days. Second, no one may store, or allow to be stored, a used motor vehicle or part of one that lacks a license plate or carries an expired plate, on public or private property, for 48 hours or more, unless it is screened from street or sidewalk view or is on the lot of a lawfully operating used-vehicle dealership.

The section applies to both public right-of-way and private yards and driveways, and it does not require the vehicle to be inoperable, only unlicensed or expired-plate and visible from the street. 100, posting a notice to abate within 10 days, in addition to citing the responsible party in municipal court.

Violations & Fines

A violation of EC 6.800 is punishable under the Chapter 6 general penalty in EC 6.992, a fine of up to $200, and separately exposes the property to nuisance abatement under EC 6.080 to 6.100: the city can post a 10-day notice to abate, then abate the condition itself and assess the cost, plus administrative overhead, as a lien against the property if the owner does not act.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can I keep an unregistered car in my driveway in Eugene?
EC 6.800(2) allows a used vehicle without a current license plate to be stored for up to 48 hours if it is visible from the street or sidewalk; beyond that it must be screened from view or moved, unless the property is a licensed used-vehicle dealer's lot.
Does the vehicle have to be broken down to violate this rule?
No. EC 6.800(2) is triggered by a missing or expired license plate on the vehicle, not by mechanical condition, so a legally operable car with an expired tag left in view for 48 hours or more is still a violation.
Can the city force removal of a junk vehicle from my property?
Yes. EC 6.800(3) makes the condition a nuisance as well as an offense, so the city can post a notice to abate under EC 6.080, and if it is not resolved within 10 days, abate it directly and bill the cost as a lien against the property.

Sources & Official References

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