Livonia, MI Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Livonia Code of Ordinances Chapter 2.32 lets the police department remove any automobile, bicycle or other personal property abandoned on a public street, highway, alley or other public place, and separately authorizes removal of a vehicle from private property under Section 252 of the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code (§ 2.32.010). A vehicle is legally "abandoned" once it has sat parked, stored or unattended on public property for 48 continuous hours or more and the department's attention has been drawn to it or it has been notified of the fact (§ 2.32.020).

Bicycles and other personal property need only sit unattended for an "undue length of time." Before towing, officers must make a reasonable effort to locate the owner, though for automobiles specifically the department instead follows the notice and disposition steps in MVC § 252 (§ 2.32.020(B), § 2.32.055). Once removed, the vehicle is stored pending return to the owner or sale (§ 2.32.030). Unclaimed property, including vehicles, may be sold at public auction after being held 45 days, with sale notice published once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the city (§ 2.32.060, § 2.32.070).

An owner who comes forward before the sale gets the vehicle back on proof of ownership, but must pay a reasonable amount for hauling, storage and advertising expenses, with the chief of police directing and supervising every sale (§ 2.32.080). Sale proceeds go to the city treasurer for deposit into the general fund (§ 2.32.090). Separately, § 10.20 makes it unlawful to park on private property, drive-in lots or private property without the owner's consent, enforced by the police department on complaint of the property owner.