Lawrence, MA Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Section 9.08.030 of the Lawrence Code of Ordinances makes it unlawful for any person, or the owner or person in control of any premises, to store in the open a dismantled, partially dismantled, inoperative, wrecked, or junked truck or motor vehicle of any kind, or worn-out or discarded material collected for storage or later use. The ban covers both public rights-of-way and private property within the city, so a car up on blocks in a driveway or side yard is treated the same as one left on a public way. Each day the vehicle or material sits in violation counts as a new, separate offense, so the penalty compounds rather than capping at a single citation.

The code sets the penalty at $100.00 per day for each day of violation, enforced by inspectional personnel, inspectors, the commissioner, assistant commissioner, the enforcement prosecutor, and fire and police personnel, all of whom the ordinance designates as enforcing persons. Enforcement follows the noncriminal disposition procedure in M.G.L. c. 40, Section 21D, meaning violators typically receive a ticket rather than a criminal summons. Beyond the daily fine, enforcing personnel have the power to seize any abandoned material stored in violation of the section. If the owner cannot be located and the vehicle or material is not claimed within 30 days of seizure, the city can destroy it without liability, closing off the option of simply ignoring the fine and leaving the vehicle in place indefinitely.