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

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

AR district limit
1 junked vehicle per lot
Mobile home parks
Junked/abandoned vehicles barred outright
Junkyard facility threshold
>6 vehicles or 600 sq ft of junk
Removal hearing standard
Follows G.S. 153A-132.2(a3)
Misdemeanor penalty
$500.00 fine or 30 days
Civil penalty
$100.00, plus $25.00 min cleanup charge

Summary

County-initiated removal of a junked motor vehicle in Johnston County must follow every hearing step required by G.S. 153A-132.2(a3); the county set that procedure under Article XI of the Land Development Code at § 14-615. Zoning also caps how many junked vehicles a property can hold, and any Chapter 14 violation carries a $500.00 misdemeanor fine plus a $100.00 civil penalty under § 14-614.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Johnston County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Sec. 14-614. - Penalties, remedies, and recovery of administration costs. (a) Criminal penalties. Any violation of any provision of this chapter shall constitute a misdemeanor and shall subject the violator to a penalty of $500.00 or imprisonment for not more than 30 days. Any act constituting a violation of this chapter shall also subject the offender to a civil penalty of $100.00. ... Sec. 14-615. Junked motor vehicle removal. Any county initiated removal of junked motor vehicles shall be subject to all hearing requirements as identified by G.S. 153A-132.2(a3). The hearing procedure is hereby established subject to Article XI of this Code.

Full Breakdown

Johnston County's Land Development Code treats junked and abandoned vehicles as a zoning matter rather than a stand-alone nuisance ordinance. S. S. 9, and defines a 'junkyard facility' as any lot storing more than six junked vehicles or using more than 600 square feet for junk storage. Zoning district rules set the day-to-day limits: in the Agricultural-Residential (AR) district, § 14-75(14) allows only one junked motor vehicle as a permitted accessory use per lot, while § 14-77(j)(1), governing the Residential-Mobile Home Park district, bars junked or abandoned vehicles from mobile home lots outright.

S. 2(a3), with the hearing procedure established under Article XI of the code. 00 civil penalty under § 14-614, recoverable as a debt if unpaid within ten days. 00 minimum cleanup charge.

Violations & Fines

Keeping more than one junked vehicle in the AR district, or any junked or abandoned vehicle on a mobile home park lot, violates Chapter 14. The planning director issues written notice; an uncorrected violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a $500.00 fine or 30 days in jail, plus a $100.00 civil penalty under § 14-614, with unpaid penalties collectible as a civil debt and appeals due to the Board of Adjustment within 45 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many junked cars can I keep on my property in unincorporated Johnston County?
In the Agricultural-Residential district, § 14-75(14) allows only one junked motor vehicle as a permitted accessory use; storing more than six vehicles or using over 600 square feet for junk turns the property into a regulated junkyard facility.
Are junked cars allowed in a mobile home park?
No. Section 14-77(j)(1) bars junked or abandoned vehicles from mobile home park lots outright as a use and appearance requirement.
What happens if the county decides to remove my junked vehicle?
Under § 14-615, the county must follow every hearing step required by G.S. 153A-132.2(a3), with the hearing procedure set out in Article XI of the Land Development Code before removal.
What's the penalty for violating the junked-vehicle rules?
A misdemeanor under § 14-614 carrying up to a $500.00 fine or 30 days in jail, plus a separate $100.00 civil penalty; unpaid penalties become a collectible civil debt.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Johnston County

All Johnston County rules

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