Fort Smith, AR Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing code
- IPMC § 302.8, locally amended
- Repair time cap
- 90 days in a carport
- Unregistered vehicle limit
- One per address, screened
- Painting
- Spray booth required
Summary
Fort Smith bars inoperable, unsightly, disassembled or stripped vehicles from any premises, with limited exceptions for enclosed repair or nonregistered vehicles behind a fence.
Except as provided herein and in other regulations, no inoperable or unsightly motor vehicle shall be parked, kept or stored on any premises and no vehicle shall be at any time be in a state of major disassembly, disrepair, or in the process of being stripped or dismantled. Painting of vehicles is prohibited unless conducted inside an approved spray booth.
Exceptions:
(1)A vehicle of any type is permitted to undergo major overhaul, including body work, provided that such work is performed inside a structure or similarly enclosed area designed and approved for such purposes.(2)Any motor vehicle parked or stored within a building or enclosed garage on private property.(3)Any motor vehicle held in conjunction with a business enterprise lawfully licensed by the city for the storage, servicing and repair of motor vehicles and properly operated in an appropriate business zone pursuant to the zoning ordinances of the city.(4)Any motor vehicle within a carport which motor vehicle is being actively repaired on at least a weekly basis. The vehicle and its parts when not being repaired must be neatly covered with an opaque cover. Repairs to the inoperable motor vehicle shall be completed within 90 days.(5)Any motor vehicle defined as inoperable solely because it is not currently registered may be stored in a covered carport or completely enclosed behind a six-foot opaque screening fence. No more than one operable nonregistered vehicle will be allowed per address.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
Fort Smith's local amendment to the property maintenance code, City Code § 6-401 (amending IPMC § 302.8), makes it unlawful to park, keep, or store an inoperable or unsightly motor vehicle on any premises, or to leave one in major disassembly, disrepair, or mid-strip. Vehicle painting outside an approved spray booth is also banned. Exceptions exist for repairs performed inside an enclosed structure, vehicles kept in a garage, vehicles tied to a licensed repair business in the right zoning district, a carport vehicle under active weekly repair (90-day cap), and one unregistered vehicle per address if it's in a covered carport or behind a six-foot opaque fence.
Violations & Fines
Enforced by the city's code/property maintenance inspectors as a property maintenance code violation; noncompliant vehicles can be ordered removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I store a broken-down car in my driveway in Fort Smith?
How long can a car sit under repair in my carport?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Smith
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