Goodyear, AZ Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- Unsheltered 15+ days on private property
- Definition
- No plates, inoperable, stripped, junked, or 72+ hr repair
- Notice period
- 15 days after written notice to abate
- Exemptions
- Active businesses; classic cars (A.R.S. § 28-2483)
- Penalty
- Class 1 misdemeanor
- Cost liability
- Owner/tenant billed for city removal
Summary
Goodyear treats an unlicensed, inoperable, stripped, junked or wrecked vehicle left unsheltered on private property for 15 days or more as a public nuisance dangerous to public safety under City Code § 11-1-1. The City must give the owner written notice to abate, and after 15 more days of inaction can remove the vehicle and bill the property owner, tenant or lessee for the cost.
(B) Unsheltered storage prohibited. (1) The unsheltered storage of any abandoned vehicle or abandoned vehicle parts for a period of 15 days or more on any private property within the corporate limits of this City is declared to be a nuisance and dangerous to the public safety. (2) The provisions of subsection (B)(1) of this section shall not apply to the storage of abandoned vehicles or abandoned vehicle parts on the premises of a business enterprise operating in a lawful place and manner when necessary to the operation of such business enterprise or to a storage place or depository for vehicles or vehicle parts maintained in a lawful place and manner. The exceptions contained in this subsection shall be an affirmative defense to be pled and proved by the defendant in any judicial proceedings under this section. (3) The provisions in subsection (B)(1) of this section shall not apply to classic cars while such are maintained or stored on the owner's private property.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 26-1648, passed April 27, 2026).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 11-1-1 defines an 'ABANDONED VEHICLE' as any vehicle without current license plates or tabs, or that is inoperable, stripped, unclaimed, scrapped, junked or discarded, and extends the same rule to a vehicle undergoing repairs that take 72 hours or more. 'UNSHELTERED' means visible from a public street, alley, sidewalk, right-of-way, or from an adjoining property at ground level, so a wrecked car parked in an open driveway or side yard counts even if it never touches the street. Storing an abandoned vehicle or its parts unsheltered for 15 days or more on private property is declared to be a nuisance and dangerous to the public safety.
§ 28-2483 as horseless carriages, classic cars or historic vehicles, kept on the owner's own property. The owner, tenant, lessee or occupant of the property, together with the vehicle's owner, are jointly and severally responsible for abating the nuisance. The City Manager or a representative must send written notice by certified or registered mail, or personal service, giving 15 days to abate. If the violation continues past that 15-day window, the City Manager may remove the vehicle or parts and dispose of them according to law, and the property owner, tenant, lessee or occupant is billed for the full removal cost.
Violations & Fines
Failing, neglecting or refusing to abate an abandoned-vehicle nuisance after the 15-day notice period is a class 1 misdemeanor under § 11-1-1(C)(1), and a criminal sentence does not excuse the owner from still having to comply with the removal requirement. Beyond the criminal charge, the City can remove the vehicle itself and hold the property owner, tenant, lessee or occupant liable for every dollar of the removal and disposal cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a junk car sit in a Goodyear driveway before it's illegal?
Does Goodyear exempt classic cars from the abandoned-vehicle rule?
What happens after Goodyear sends an abandoned-vehicle notice?
Is leaving an abandoned car in Goodyear a crime?
Sources & Official References
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