Oak Lawn, IL Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Core rule
- abandonment on highway/public view unlawful
- Private property notice
- 7-day waiting period before towing
- Penalty
- $10–$750 per offense, per day
- Dealer/repair shop exemption
- up to 45 days in public view
- Enforcement
- Police Chief authorizes tow to auto pound
Summary
Oak Lawn bans abandoning any motor vehicle on a highway or on private or public property in view of the public anywhere in the Village, and can tow vehicles left on private property after a 7-day nuisance notice, billing the owner for removal.
The abandonment of a motor vehicle or other vehicle or any part thereof on any highway in the Village is unlawful and subject to penalties as set forth herein. The abandonment of a motor vehicle or other vehicle or any part thereof on private or public property, other than a highway, in view of the general public, anywhere in the Village is unlawful. A motor vehicle or other vehicle or any part thereof so abandoned on private property may be authorized for removal by or upon the order of the Chief of the Police Department after a waiting period of seven (7) days or more has expired. An abandoned vehicle on the private property of the owner or other person legally entitled to have possession of the vehicle (except repair shops and vehicle dealers) is hereby declared to be a nuisance. In addition to the definition provided in this Chapter for "abandoned vehicle", an abandoned vehicle shall include and mean any unlicensed motor vehicle, or one that does not have the current annual year license attached to it, which has not been used or moved for seven (7) consecutive days. An abandoned vehicle in a repair shop or vehicle dealership, or on any premises used in connection therewith, where said vehicle is in open view of the public for more than forty five (45) days is hereby declared to be a nuisance. (Ords.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-15: Code current through: Ord. 26-09-22, passed April 28, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Oak Lawn Village Code § 11-10-2 makes it unlawful to abandon a motor vehicle, or any part of one, on any highway in the Village, or on private or public property in view of the general public anywhere in the Village. An 'abandoned vehicle' under § 11-10-1 includes one in a state of disrepair, one without a current license and tag, or one that has not been moved for 7 or more consecutive days and appears deserted. On private property, the Chief of Police may authorize removal after a 7-day waiting period, and § 11-10-5 requires written notice to abate the nuisance before the Village tows the vehicle to an auto pound and charges the cost to the owner. Repair shops and dealers are exempt unless a vehicle sits in public view for more than 45 days.
Violations & Fines
Misdemeanor: fined not less than $10 nor more than $750 per offense under § 11-10-6, and each day the violation continues is a separate offense. The Village may also summarily tow the vehicle to an auto pound at the owner's expense after notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Oak Lawn tow a car off my own driveway?
What makes a vehicle 'abandoned' under Oak Lawn's code?
What's the fine for an abandoned vehicle violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Oak Lawn
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Abandoned Vehicles in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle abandoned vehicles.