Madison, WI Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Abandonment threshold
- 48 hours unattended, no permission
- Enforcing agency
- Police / Parking Division Manager
- Minimum storage before sale
- 10 days after mailed notice
- Early disposal trigger
- Towing/storage cost exceeds vehicle value
- Reclaim requirement
- Pay all accrued charges, prove ownership
- DOT reporting deadline
- 5 days after sale/disposal
Summary
Leaving a vehicle unattended on any Madison street or on private or public property for more than 48 hours without permission makes it a deemed-abandoned public nuisance under MGO § 12.128(4). Police or parking enforcement officers must have it towed and impounded, and the City can sell or junk it if towing and storage costs exceed its value.
No person shall leave unattended any motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer or mobile home on any public street or highway or private or public property in the City of Madison, for such time and under such circumstances as to cause the vehicle to reasonably appear to have been abandoned. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, whenever any vehicle has been left unattended on any street or highway in the City of Madison or upon private or public property without the permission of the property owner or other person charged with the lawful jurisdiction thereof for more than forty-eight (48) hours, the vehicle is deemed abandoned and constitutes a public nuisance. A motor vehicle shall not be considered an abandoned motor vehicle when it is out of ordinary public view, or when designated as not abandoned by the Parking Division Manager or their designee.
Full Breakdown
128(4) bars leaving any motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or mobile home unattended on a public street, highway, or private or public property under circumstances that make it reasonably appear abandoned. A vehicle left unattended more than 48 hours without the property owner's permission is deemed abandoned and a public nuisance, unless it is out of ordinary public view or the Parking Division Manager designates it as not abandoned. A police or parking enforcement officer who finds an abandoned vehicle must have it towed to impoundment and notify the Police Chief or Parking Division Manager.
If towing and storage costs would exceed the vehicle's value, and the Police Chief confirms it is not stolen or needed as evidence, the City may junk or sell it early; vehicles over 19 model years old must go through the standard disposal process. 1331) and proving ownership. Unclaimed vehicles are sold at public auction or sealed bid under Wis. 40(3)(c), or offered to City Fleet Service for municipal use; the City must report each sale or disposal to the Wisconsin DOT within 5 days.
Violations & Fines
The vehicle owner, except in a theft, is responsible for all abandonment, impoundment, and disposal costs. Costs not recovered from a sale may be pursued against the owner in a civil action. An owner or lienholder who fails to reclaim within 10 days of the payment period after a sale waives all right, title, and interest in the vehicle and consents to its sale.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a car sit unattended on a Madison street before it's abandoned?
Can Madison tow a car parked without permission on my private property?
How do I get my towed vehicle back in Madison?
What happens if I never reclaim my abandoned vehicle?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Madison
Compare Madison to another location·View the Wisconsin parking rules overview
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Abandoned Vehicles in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dane County handle abandoned vehicles.