Orange County, CA Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Orange County Codified Ordinance Sec. 3-13-4(11) makes it unlawful to keep, store, or maintain on any premises any abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle, or part thereof, except as permitted by Table 3-13-6(c). That table permits such vehicles only when stored completely inside a building out of view, or - on residentially-developed property - prohibits them on unpaved surfaces and limits them to screened, properly-paved areas. California Vehicle Code Sec. 22660 authorizes a county to adopt an ordinance for the abatement and removal, as public nuisances, of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles from public or private property; the county's vehicle-abatement provisions sit in Title 6, Division 4, Article 8 of the Codified Ordinances. Under the state framework, vehicles removed must go to a licensed dismantler or scrap processor, and at least a 10-day notice of intent to abate is generally required (CVC 22661). On public streets, CVC 22651(k) allows removal of a vehicle left standing 72 or more consecutive hours, and CVC 22651(o) addresses vehicles with registration expired more than six months. OC Neighborhood Preservation lists 'inoperable vehicles' as a common violation in unincorporated areas.