Loveland, CO Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 10.28.020, Chapter 10.28
- Private-property trigger
- Unattended 24+ hours without consent
- Reclaim window
- 30 days from mailed notice
- Low-value sale cap
- $200.00, junk-only, no title
- Private lots
- Unlawful (junk) vehicles barred, Ch. 16.20
- Towing authority
- Obstruction removal without officer liability
Summary
Loveland, Colorado bars abandoning a motor vehicle on public property and lets police tow any vehicle blocking a street, alley or right-of-way. Loveland Municipal Code § 10.28.020 requires officers to remove or store an abandoned vehicle in an impound lot, and separately authorizes towing any vehicle, attended or not, that obstructs traffic or maintenance.
A.It is unlawful for any person to abandon any motor vehicle upon public property. Any law enforcement agent who finds a motor vehicle which he has reasonable grounds to believe has been abandoned shall require such motor vehicle to be removed or cause the same to be removed and placed in storage in any impound lot designated or maintained by the law enforcement agency employing such officer.B.Whenever any law enforcement agent finds a motor vehicle, attended or unattended, standing upon any portion of a street, highway, alley or other public right-of-way in such a manner as to constitute an obstruction to traffic or proper highway maintenance or refuse removal, such agent is authorized to cause the motor vehicle to be moved or towed to eliminate any such obstruction, and neither the law enforcement agent or anyone acting under his direction shall be liable for any damage to such motor vehicle occasioned by such removal.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 13).
Full Breakdown
010: a vehicle left unattended on private property for 24 hours or longer without the property owner's or possessor's consent, a vehicle on public property that a law enforcement officer reasonably determines is deserted, discarded or inoperable after weighing factors like how long it has sat still, visible debris, structural condition and tire condition, or a vehicle left in an impound lot beyond an agreed pickup time or 48 hours after notice of release. 020, makes it unlawful to abandon a vehicle on public property and directs any law enforcement agent who finds an apparently abandoned vehicle to have it removed to a designated impound lot.
A separate paragraph lets an officer move or tow any vehicle, whether attended or unattended, that is obstructing traffic or street maintenance on a street, highway, alley or right-of-way, without liability for resulting damage. 20 bars keeping an 'unlawful vehicle,' meaning a wrecked, dismantled or inoperable one, on any lot in the City, with limited exceptions for licensed dealers, fully enclosed storage, or up to two additional covered vehicles kept under strict tarp and yard-placement conditions. 040.
Violations & Fines
Abandoning a vehicle on public property or keeping an unlawful vehicle on private property is punishable under the general penalty clause § 1.12.010. An abandoned vehicle may be towed and stored, and if unclaimed within 30 days of notice, appraised and sold under § 10.28.040; vehicles appraised at $200.00 or less may be sold only for junking, scrapping or dismantling, with no title issued to the buyer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a car sit before it's considered abandoned in Loveland?
Can Loveland police tow my car just because it's blocking traffic?
What happens if I don't reclaim my towed vehicle in Loveland?
Can I keep a junk car in my yard in Loveland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Loveland
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Abandoned Vehicles in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Larimer County handle abandoned vehicles.