Pinellas County, FL Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Scope
- unincorporated county only
- Enforcer
- Dept. of Environmental Management
- Covers
- vehicles, trailers and derelict vessels
- Exemption
- one registered off-road vehicle on trailer
- Full exemption
- stored in fully enclosed structure
Summary
Unincorporated Pinellas County bans open storage of inoperative vehicles and derelict vessels on residential or public property; Sec. 58-270 requires them enclosed in a garage or removed, enforced by the Department of Environmental Management.
No person nor any other business entity shall place, park or store, or allow to be placed, parked or stored any inoperative vehicle(s), derelict vessel(s), or off-road vehicles on, or attached to any accessory structure on, any residentially zoned property located in the unincorporated area of the county.(b)No person nor any other business entity shall place, park or store, or allow to be placed, parked or stored any inoperative vehicle(s), derelict vessel(s), or off-road vehicles on any public property as defined in this article. (Ord. No. 06-10, § 1, 1-24-06)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 124).
Full Breakdown
Under Sec. 58-270, no person or business may place, park or store an "inoperative vehicle," derelict vessel, or off-road vehicle on residentially zoned property or on public property in unincorporated Pinellas County. Sec. 58-266 defines an inoperative vehicle as one incapable of moving under its own power, missing required parts, or lacking a current license plate. The county's Department of Environmental Management enforces the ban; vehicles stored inside a fully enclosed structure, or one registered off-road vehicle on a trailer per dwelling, are exempt under Sec. 58-272.
Violations & Fines
The Department of Environmental Management investigates and enforces; violations are punishable under the county's general penalty in Sec. 1-8, and the county may remove or impound vehicles left on public property under Fla. Stat. ch. 705.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a non-running car in my yard in unincorporated Pinellas County?
Does the inoperative vehicle ban cover boats?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pinellas County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Pinellas County to another location·View the Florida parking rules overview
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