Kendall County, IL Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Definition threshold
- inoperable for at least 7 days, § 34-26(b)
- Applies
- unincorporated Kendall County only, outside city/village limits
- Cure period
- 10 days from written notice, § 34-28
- Enforcement
- code enforcement officers and Sheriff's deputies, § 34-27
- Penalty
- up to $200 per offense, § 34-29
Summary
In unincorporated Kendall County, storing an inoperable motor vehicle, one missing or having altered engine, wheels, or other parts for at least seven days, on any property is declared a nuisance under Section 34-26. Owners who ignore a written abatement notice face a fine of up to $200 per offense, with each day after the cure period a separate violation.
(a)It is hereby declared a nuisance for any person to cause or permit the existence or storage upon any premises within the County and outside the municipal confines of any city, village or incorporated town any inoperable motor vehicle or part thereof.(b)For the purposes of this section, the term "inoperable motor vehicle" means any motor vehicle from which, for a period of at least seven (7) days, the engine, wheels or other parts have been removed, or on which the engine, wheels or other parts have been altered, damaged or otherwise so treated that the vehicle is incapable of being driven under its own motor power. ... (b)A violation of this article by any person shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200.00) for each offense.(c)Each day a violation continues to exist following the expiration of the ten (10) day cure period set forth in Section 34-28(a) shall constitute a separate offense.
Full Breakdown
Kendall County's inoperable motor vehicle ordinance, adopted under authority granted by Section 5-1092 of the Illinois Counties Code (55 ILCS 5/5-1092), applies only outside the municipal limits of any city, village, or incorporated town in the County. Section 34-26 defines an 'inoperable motor vehicle' as one from which the engine, wheels, or other parts have been removed, altered, damaged, or otherwise treated so the vehicle cannot be driven under its own power, for a period of at least seven days. The definition carves out five exceptions: vehicles temporarily down for ordinary service or repair, vehicles kept inside a building when not in use, licensed historic vehicles over 25 years old, vehicles on a licensed wrecking or junking business's premises, and agricultural equipment.
Storing or permitting storage of a qualifying inoperable vehicle on any premises, public or private, is declared a nuisance. Enforcement runs through Section 34-27: County code enforcement officers and Sheriff's deputies can issue citations without waiting for a complaint, and whoever controls the vehicle, whether by title, possession, property ownership, or any possessory interest, gets hand-delivered written notice that the vehicle constitutes a nuisance, along with a court date. Section 34-28 gives the person 10 days from that notice to either repair the vehicle to operable condition or dispose of it, and to avoid the scheduled court date they must contact the Planning, Building, and Zoning Department at least 10 days before the court appearance to arrange a compliance inspection.
Violations & Fines
Section 34-29 makes it unlawful to fail to remove or abate the nuisance within the 10-day cure period after notice. A violation is punishable by a fine of up to $200 for each offense, and each day the violation continues beyond the 10-day cure period set in Section 34-28 counts as a separate offense, so unresolved cases can accumulate daily fines.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a car sit broken down before it's a nuisance in Kendall County?
Are classic cars exempt from Kendall County's inoperable vehicle rule?
What happens after I get a nuisance notice for an inoperable vehicle?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kendall County
Compare Kendall County to another location·View the Illinois parking rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.