Marathon County, WI Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Time limit
- 48 hours unattended
- Covers
- Highways, waters, public/private property
- Exception
- Landowner or Sheriff's permission
- First-offense fine
- $5-$500 forfeiture
- Authority
- Wis. Stat. § 342.40(3)
Summary
Marathon County bars leaving any vehicle unattended on a public highway, on county waters, or on public or private property for more than 48 hours without the landowner's or Sheriff's permission -- after that the vehicle is presumed abandoned.
(3)Abandoned vehicles prohibited. No person shall leave unattended any vehicle on any public highway, private or public property or in or on any waters within Marathon County for more than 48 hours, unless that person has obtained the permission of the landowner or the Marathon County Sheriff or his or her designee. A vehicle is presumed to be abandoned if it has been left unattended without the permission of the property owner or the Marathon County Sheriff, or his or her representative, for more than 48 hours or if other indicia of abandonment is apparent. (O-29-20)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 59).
Full Breakdown
Section 9.36, enacted under Wis. Stat. § 342.40(3), defines 'vehicle' broadly to include any motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer or mobile home. Leaving one unattended anywhere in the county -- a highway, other public or private property, or county waters -- for more than 48 hours creates a legal presumption that it has been abandoned, unless the owner has the landowner's or the Sheriff's permission to leave it longer. The provision sits in Chapter 9, Public Peace and Good Order, which the county applies countywide under its § 59.54 authority.
Violations & Fines
Violations fall under the General Code's default penalty, § 25.04(1)(a): a forfeiture of $5 to $500 plus prosecution costs for a first offense, with each day of continued violation counted separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a vehicle sit before it's 'abandoned' under Marathon County's ordinance?
Does the abandoned-vehicle rule apply on my own land?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Marathon County
Compare Marathon County to another location·View the Wisconsin parking rules overview
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