Lakewood, OH Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Local trigger
- Unmoved more than 24 hours (CO 351.18)
- State abandonment
- 48 hours on public property (ORC 4513.63)
- Reporting line
- Lakewood Police non-emergency (216) 521-6773
- Removal authority
- ORC 4513.61; cost charged to registered owner
Summary
A vehicle left on a Lakewood street more than 24 hours may be cited and towed under CO 351.18, and Ohio Revised Code 4513.63 deems a vehicle left on public property for 48 hours or more abandoned and subject to removal.
As used in this section, 'abandoned junk motor vehicle' means any motor vehicle meeting all of the following requirements: (1) Left on private property for forty-eight hours or longer without the permission of the person having the right to the possession of the property, on a public street or other property open to the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking, or upon or within the right-of-way of any road or highway, for forty-eight hours or longer.
Full Breakdown
18, which prohibits a vehicle from remaining parked in a disabled condition, or without normal use, for more than 24 hours; after a citation and tow notice, the vehicle is towed 24 hours later if it has not moved. 63 defines an 'abandoned junk motor vehicle' to include a vehicle left on a public street or other property open to the public, or within a road or highway right-of-way, for forty-eight hours or longer (and meeting the age, condition, and value criteria in the statute), and provides for its removal.
64 addresses junk motor vehicles on private property. Residents report apparently abandoned vehicles to the Lakewood Police non-emergency line at (216) 521-6773, providing the location, vehicle description, and license plate.
Violations & Fines
An abandoned vehicle is towed and stored at the owner's expense, and the registered owner is charged tow and storage fees and may face a citation. Vehicles unclaimed after removal are disposed of under the ORC 4513.61 to 4513.65 procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I report an abandoned car on my street in Lakewood?
When does Ohio law consider a vehicle abandoned?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
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Abandoned Vehicles in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cuyahoga County handle abandoned vehicles.