Lakewood, WA Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- LMC 8.26.030
- Junk vehicle test
- Meets 3 of 4 criteria in LMC 8.26.020
- Fine
- $500 civil infraction per violation, per day
- Sole-vehicle exemption
- Must be operable and registered to an occupant
- Enforcement
- Police or code enforcement officers
- Immediate-threat removal
- Summary abatement without notice, LMC 8.26.100
Summary
Lakewood, Washington bans storing junk, wrecked, or apparently inoperable vehicles, plus stray vehicle parts and body panels, on any property in the city under LMC 8.26.030. The rule reaches vacant lots as well as occupied ones and covers public and private property alike. Code enforcement or police can declare the vehicle a public nuisance, and violators face a $500 civil infraction for every day the vehicle sits.
No person owning, leasing, renting, occupying, being in possession or having charge of any property in the City, including vacant lots, shall retain or store, except if permitted by any other City ordinance, any of the following: A. One or more junk, wrecked, dismantled, partially dismantled, or apparently inoperable vehicles; or B. Body parts, engines or drive-train parts, wheels, tires, or any other parts, assemblies or components of automobiles and other vehicles.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 852, passed June 15, 2026).
Full Breakdown
030 makes it unlawful for anyone owning, leasing, renting, occupying or controlling property in Lakewood, including vacant lots, to retain or store junk, wrecked, dismantled, or apparently inoperable vehicles, or stray vehicle body parts, engines, drive-train components, wheels or tires. 020 defines a 'junk vehicle' as one meeting at least three of four tests: it is three years old or older, extensively damaged (broken windows, missing wheels, tires, motor or transmission), apparently inoperable, or worth only its scrap value. 'Apparently inoperable' separately covers a vehicle covered by moss or vegetation suggesting it has not moved in 30 days, or missing major components such as headlights, mirrors or bumpers.
130; and a household's sole source of transportation, provided it is legally operable and currently registered to an occupant, with the burden of proof on the owner. 040, any junk or inoperable vehicle identified by a law enforcement or code enforcement officer on public or private property is a public nuisance subject to removal, impoundment and disposal. 080 requires the City to notify the registered owner and the property owner, who may request a hearing before the City Hearing Examiner; if the vehicle was placed without the property owner's consent, the Examiner will not assess removal costs against that owner. 100.
Violations & Fines
Violating LMC 8.26.030 is a civil infraction carrying a $500 fine per violation, and LMC 8.26.060 makes each day the vehicle remains a separate violation, so fines accumulate daily until it is removed. The City can also charge the same conduct as a misdemeanor as an alternative penalty. Abatement and towing costs the City incurs become a debt against the responsible party and can be recorded as a lien against the property under LMC 8.26.120.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a broken-down car in my driveway in Lakewood, WA?
What happens after Lakewood tags a vehicle as junk?
Does the junk vehicle rule apply to parts, not just whole cars?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
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Abandoned Vehicles in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle abandoned vehicles.