Monterey, CA Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Section 20-150 makes the finding explicit: an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle or its parts, sitting on private or public property other than a highway, is declared a public nuisance because it reduces property values, invites plundering, creates fire hazards, attracts minors into danger, and harbors rodents and insects. The Article exempts vehicles fully enclosed in a building or not visible from the street, vehicles lawfully stored as part of a licensed dismantler's, dealer's, or junk business, and vehicles an owner is actively repairing or reconstructing for personal use, per Section 20-151.

Enforcement runs through the Chief of Police under Section 20-153, who may enter private or public property to inspect a vehicle or verify its identity. Before removal, Section 20-157 requires a ten-day notice of intention mailed by certified mail to both the land owner and the vehicle's last registered and legal owner, using the statutory notice language set out in the section itself; if identification numbers are unavailable the notice to the vehicle owner is waived. Either owner can request a public hearing within that ten-day window, or submit a sworn statement of denial in lieu of appearing, under Section 20-158, and the California Highway Patrol must separately be notified at least ten days before any hearing under Section 20-160.

The City Manager conducts the hearing without being bound by technical rules of evidence, can order removal and assess administrative and removal costs against the land owner, and that decision can be appealed to the City Council within five days under Section 20-162. 5 and collected with property taxes, per Section 20-165.