Yolo County, CA Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Time limit
- 5 days before nuisance declared
- Enforcing agency
- Sheriff-Coroner, Sec. 5-1.05
- State authority
- Vehicle Code Section 22660
- Cost recovery
- Assessed against parcel, Gov. Code Sec. 25845
- Exemptions
- Enclosed in building or licensed dismantler storage
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor for abandoning or refusing removal
Summary
Yolo County makes it a misdemeanor to abandon, park, store, or leave an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle on private or public property, not including highways, for more than five days. Section 5-1.13 exempts vehicles fully enclosed in a building or lawfully stored by a licensed dismantler, vehicle dealer, or junkyard; the Sheriff-Coroner administers the program under Vehicle Code Section 22660.
It shall be unlawful and a misdemeanor for any person to abandon, park, store, or leave, or permit the abandonment, parking, storing, or leaving of, any licensed or unlicensed vehicle, or part thereof, which is in an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative condition upon any private property or public property, not including highways, within the County for a period in excess of five (5) days unless such vehicle, or part thereof, is completely enclosed within a building in a lawful manner where it is not plainly visible from the street or other public or private property, or unless such vehicle is stored or parked in a lawful manner on private property in connection with the business of a licensed dismantler, licensed vehicle dealer, or a junkyard. It shall be unlawful and a misdemeanor for any person to fail or refuse to remove an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle, or part thereof, or to refuse to abate such nuisance when ordered to do so in accordance with the abatement provisions of this chapter or State law where such State law is applicable.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-21: Supplement 2026 S-21 includes: Local legislation current through Ord. 1584, effective June 25, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Yolo County Code Chapter 5-1, Abandoned Vehicle Abatement, implements the County's authority under Vehicle Code Section 22660 to treat abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles as public nuisances. 02 defines "vehicle" broadly as any device that propels or is drawn upon a highway, and excludes highways themselves from the "public property" the chapter reaches. 03 exempts vehicles completely enclosed in a building and out of public view, and vehicles lawfully stored on the premises of a licensed dismantler, vehicle dealer, or junk dealer. 05, with authority to enter property to inspect a suspect vehicle.
11 requires notifying the DMV of the removal within five days, transmitting any registration, title, or plates recovered. 12 lets the County assess those costs against the parcel itself under Government Code Section 25845, collected by the Treasurer-Tax Collector with the same priority as County taxes.
Violations & Fines
Section 5-1.13 makes it a misdemeanor to abandon, park, store, or leave a licensed or unlicensed vehicle in an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative condition on private or public property, not including highways, for more than five days. It is likewise a misdemeanor to refuse to remove such a vehicle, or refuse to abate the nuisance, once the County has ordered abatement under this chapter or applicable State law.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can an inoperative vehicle sit on my property in unincorporated Yolo County?
Which County department handles abandoned vehicle complaints?
What happens to a vehicle the County declares abandoned?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yolo County
California rules heatmap·Compare Yolo County to another location·View the California parking rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.