Durham County, NC Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Article IV of the county code, adopted August 14, 1995 and amended August 22, 2016, treats abandoned and junked vehicles as a public nuisance and health hazard (Sec. 24-91). The director of general services handles enforcement on private property; the sheriff's office handles public property, including weekends and holidays when the director is unavailable (Sec. 24-93). A vehicle is "abandoned" if left on public or county property for more than seven days, or on private property without the consent of the owner, occupant or lessee for more than two hours (Sec.

24-92). A "hazardous" vehicle is one a public official finds harbors vermin, pools stagnant water, stores flammable material, risks falling or tipping over, or otherwise endangers health or safety (Sec. 24-92). Before towing from private property without consent, the director must give the registered owner seven days' written notice describing the vehicle, the violation, the tow date and the right to request a pre-tow hearing; if ownership cannot be traced, notice runs in a newspaper of general circulation instead (Sec. 24-96(b)). No vehicle may be removed from private property without the owner's, lessee's or occupant's written request unless the director declares it hazardous, or the board of commissioners orders removal after a public hearing weighing property values, tourism, health and neighborhood character (Sec. 24-96(a)). A county-contracted commercial towing service performs the actual tow and storage (Sec. 24-96(a)).