Hemet, CA Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Legal basis
- Vehicle Code § 22660
- Notice period
- 10 days by mail
- Appeal window
- 5 days after decision
- Exempt
- Enclosed or dismantler-stored vehicles
Summary
Hemet declares abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles on private or public property a public nuisance, subject to a notice-and-hearing removal process under Vehicle Code § 22660.
The accumulation and storage of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles, or parts thereof, on private or public property, not including highways, is hereby found to create a condition tending to reduce the value of private property, to promote blight and deterioration, to invite plundering, to create fire hazards, to constitute an attractive nuisance creating a hazard to health and safety of minors, to create a harborage for rodents and insects, and to be injurious to the health, safety and general welfare. Therefore, the presence of an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle, or parts thereof, on private or public property, not including highways, except as expressly permitted in this division, is hereby declared to constitute a public nuisance, which may be abated as such in accordance with the provisions of this division.
(Ord. No. 1450; Code 1984, § 9700)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 69 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Acting under Vehicle Code § 22660, Hemet declares any abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle or vehicle parts on private or public property (not including highways) a public nuisance. The city manager or police chief can order removal after a ten-day mailed notice to the land owner and vehicle owner, who can request a hearing before a hearing officer or submit a sworn denial of responsibility. Vehicles fully enclosed in a building, or lawfully stored by a licensed dismantler or dealer, are exempt. Removal and administrative costs can be assessed against the property owner, and unclaimed vehicles go to a scrap yard or dismantler.
Violations & Fines
Unremoved vehicles are abated as a public nuisance with removal and administrative costs assessed as a lien against the property; owners who ignore a hearing notice lose the right to contest removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep an inoperative car in my Hemet backyard?
How does Hemet notify owners before removing a vehicle?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hemet
California rules heatmap·Compare Hemet to another location·View the California parking rules overview
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Abandoned Vehicles in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Riverside County handle abandoned vehicles.