Farmington Hills, MI Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Sec. 17-52(a)(1), part of the city's anti-blight article, prohibits storing a 'junk automobile' on residentially zoned property except inside a completely enclosed building. The section defines a junk automobile broadly: any motor vehicle unlicensed for highway use for more than 30 days, and separately, any vehicle that is inoperative for any reason for more than 30 days regardless of whether it carries current plates. Both prongs mean a disabled or unregistered car sitting in a driveway or side yard past the 30-day mark is a blighting factor even if it is technically licensed.

Sec. 17-52(a)(2) applies a parallel rule to unlicensed recreational equipment, travel trailers, boats and similar gear, with a longer six-month grace period for equipment eligible for a six-month license. Sec. 17-52(b) extends the junk-vehicle ban to non-residential zones as well, unless the storage is incidental to a lawful business use on the property. Enforcement follows Sec. 17-53: the building inspector or code enforcement officer periodically inspects for violations and must serve written notice, giving the owner and occupant 10 days to remove the vehicle. If the deadline passes, the city manager's designee can order a show-cause hearing, and after a further 10 days of noncompliance the city may remove the vehicle itself and charge the cost against the property as a lien, tax assessment, special tax, or in a suit against the owner, per Sec. 17-53(g).