Hampton, VA Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Max screened count
- 2 inoperable vehicles
- Screen required
- 6-ft opaque fence or hedge
- First offense fine
- Up to $500
- Repeat offense fine
- Up to $1,000
Summary
Hampton bans keeping an inoperable vehicle on residential property unless it is inside an enclosed building or fully screened, and caps screened storage at two vehicles under active repair.
It shall be unlawful for any person or entity to keep, or allow to be kept, on any property in the city zoned for residential purposes any inoperable vehicle unless the same is kept within a fully enclosed building or structure. However, notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, if the owner of an inoperable vehicle can demonstrate that he is actively restoring or repairing the vehicle, and if it is shielded or screened from view, the vehicle and one additional inoperable vehicle that is shielded or screened from view and being used for the restoration or repair may remain on the property. In no event shall any person keep more than two inoperable vehicles, one of which is being actively worked on, which are shielded or screened from view. The provisions of this section shall not apply to a licensed business that is regularly engaged in business as an automobile dealer, salvage dealer or scrap processor.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 31 | Zoning: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
Hampton City Code § 24-39 makes it unlawful to keep an inoperable vehicle, one that will not run, lacks valid plates, or carries an inspection sticker expired more than 60 days, on residentially zoned property unless it sits inside a fully enclosed building. An owner actively restoring a vehicle may keep it and one more inoperable vehicle outside, but only if both are shielded from view by a rigid six-foot opaque fence or dense landscaping; a tarp alone doesn't count. The city manager can order removal after a ten-day notice, bill the cost to the owner, and place a lien on the property.
Violations & Fines
Storing an uninspected, unplated, or non-running vehicle in the open on residential property, exceeding the two-vehicle screened limit, or using only a tarp instead of a fence or hedge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I store a project car in my driveway uncovered?
How many inoperable vehicles can I keep on residential property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hampton
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