North Carolina defines an abandoned vehicle as one left more than ten days on public or private property without the owner's consent. Winston-Salem and Forsyth County can tag and tow such vehicles. Report abandoned vehicles to Winston-Salem Code Enforcement or the county.
Under N.C.G.S. 20-137.7, an abandoned vehicle is one that has remained illegally on public or private property for more than ten days without the property owner's or controller's consent. State law (G.S. 160A-303 and 153A-132) authorizes cities and counties to prohibit abandonment and to remove and dispose of abandoned and junked motor vehicles. Winston-Salem Code Enforcement tags the vehicle, states a compliance deadline, and tows it if the owner does not act. In unincorporated Forsyth County, the county's nuisance and abandoned-vehicle provisions apply on private property; state-maintained roads add NCDOT removal authority. Owners may reclaim towed vehicles after paying towing and storage.
After the tag's compliance period expires, the vehicle is towed and stored at the owner's expense; unclaimed vehicles may ultimately be sold or demolished under statute.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
forsyth-county-nc
Home backyard composting is allowed in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County. There is no ordinance requiring or banning it, but a compost pile must not become a nuis...
forsyth-county-nc
Neither Winston-Salem nor Forsyth County has a specific ordinance banning or mandating artificial turf for home lawns. Its use is governed by general zoning,...
forsyth-county-nc
Since 2024 Winston-Salem lets residents replace lawns with registered Natural Landscape Areas of native plants. Turf grass must stay under eight inches, area...
forsyth-county-nc
Collecting rainwater is legal in North Carolina, and no county or city may prohibit cisterns or rain barrels used for irrigation. Forsyth County sets no ban....
forsyth-county-nc
North Carolina has no statewide homeowner watering ban, and there is no permanent year-round schedule in Winston-Salem/Forsyth. Mandatory odd/even watering d...
forsyth-county-nc
Winston-Salem defines 'rank noxious vegetation' over eight inches as a nuisance, including non-native grasses, invasive plants, poisonous plants, and untende...
See how Forsyth County's abandoned vehicles rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.