Sumter County, FL Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Vehicle limit
- 1 inoperable vehicle per lot, unincorporated area
- Cure option 1
- Complete removal of extra vehicles
- Cure option 2
- Rear-yard storage behind 6-ft opaque fence
- Exempt uses
- Licensed junk/salvage yards, licensed repair shops
- Ag exemption
- Farm equipment on parcels over 1 acre
- Appeal window
- 20 days to Board of County Commissioners
Summary
Unincorporated Sumter County allows only one inoperable vehicle per lot; a second one is a prima facie nuisance under Code § 6-104(4), and § 6-105 gives owners just two fixes: remove the extra vehicles or screen them in the rear yard behind a 6-foot opaque fence.
(4)The accumulation of in excess of one (1) inoperable vehicle on an individual lot or parcel at any one time within the unincorporated areas of Sumter County. Exempt from this provision shall only be duly licensed junk or salvage yards and vehicles under repair at a duly licensed automotive repair shop, and agricultural equipment stored on parcels of larger than one (1) acre. ... With respect to inoperable vehicles as addressed in section 6-104(4), the only acceptable abatement actions are: (1) Complete removal of said vehicles from the property, or (2) Locate vehicles in rear yard and erect a minimum six-foot, opaque, permanent fence (wood or similar material) to fully conceal the subject nuisance from all surrounding properties.
Full Breakdown
Section 6-104(4) of the Sumter County Code makes it a nuisance to accumulate more than one inoperable vehicle on an individual lot or parcel at any one time anywhere in the unincorporated area. The rule exempts three situations: vehicles at a duly licensed junk or salvage yard, vehicles under repair at a duly licensed automotive repair shop, and agricultural equipment stored on parcels larger than one acre. Unlike the county's other nuisance conditions, § 6-105 spells out the only two acceptable ways to cure an inoperable-vehicle violation: complete removal of the vehicles from the property, or relocating them to the rear yard behind a minimum six-foot, opaque, permanent fence of wood or similar material built to fully conceal them from every surrounding property.
A partial cleanup or a shorter or see-through fence does not satisfy the ordinance. As with any nuisance under Article V, the administrative officer must first send written notice by certified mail and post notice on the property under § 6-105, specifying the deadline to comply, and the owner may appeal that notice to the Board of County Commissioners within 20 days under § 6-106. 08.
Violations & Fines
Failing to remove or fence in the extra vehicles after notice exposes the owner to a misdemeanor charge under F.S. § 775.08 via § 6-110, plus the county's right to remove the vehicles itself and place a special assessment lien on the property under §§ 6-107 and 6-108 for the actual removal cost, which accrues interest at 8 percent the first year and 6 percent after that under § 6-109.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many inoperable vehicles can I keep on my property in Sumter County?
What can I do to fix an inoperable-vehicle violation?
What happens if I don't comply with the notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sumter County
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