Linn County, IA Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Scope
- County-owned property only
- 48-hr rule
- Unattended, no plates/parts
- 15-day rule
- Illegally parked vehicle
- Cost
- Owner pays removal & storage
Summary
On county-owned parking facilities and other county property, the sheriff or the board's designee may tow a vehicle left unattended more than 48 hours without plates or key parts, or one illegally parked for more than 15 days, under Linn County's abandoned-vehicle removal rule.
(6)When a vehicle is abandoned. Abandoned vehicle means any of the following: a. A vehicle that has been left unattended upon property of the county for more than 48 hours and lacks current registration plates or two or more wheels or other structural parts which render the vehicle totally inoperable; or b. A vehicle that has remained illegally upon property of the county for more than 15 days.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 16).
Full Breakdown
Linn County Code § 26-28 lets the sheriff or the board of supervisors' designee remove a vehicle from a county parking facility or other county-owned property for several reasons, including obstruction, hazard, interference with maintenance or snow removal, sitting more than 24 hours in a facility, or abandonment. A vehicle counts as abandoned if it sits unattended over 48 hours without current plates or is missing wheels or other parts that make it inoperable, or if it has been illegally parked on county property for more than 15 days. The rule reaches only county-owned parking lots and property: it does not authorize removal from private land or ordinary public roads.
Violations & Fines
Owners are solely liable for all towing and storage costs, which must be paid in full before the county releases the vehicle, per § 26-28(b).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule cover abandoned cars on my private property?
How long can a car sit before it counts as abandoned?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Linn County
Compare Linn County to another location·View the Iowa parking rules overview
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