Odessa, TX Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Private property limit
- Inoperable 30 consecutive days = junked
- Public property limit
- Inoperable 72 consecutive hours = junked
- Governing code
- City Code Article 8-4, §§8-4-1 to 8-4-13
- Notice before removal
- 10 days' written notice required
- Maximum fine
- $200 per offense, misdemeanor
Summary
Odessa treats an inoperable, unregistered vehicle as a junked-vehicle nuisance after 30 days on private property or 72 hours on public property, subject to removal and a fine up to $200.
Junked vehicle. A vehicle that: (1) Is self-propelled; and (2) Displays an expired license plate, does not display a license plate, or does not have affixed a valid registration sticker; and (3) Is: ... Inoperable and has remained inoperable for more than: (i) Seventy-two (72) consecutive hours, if the vehicle is on public property; or (ii) Thirty (30) consecutive days, if the vehicle is on private property.
Full Breakdown
Under City Code Article 8-4, a vehicle qualifies as junked if it displays an expired or missing plate, or lacks a valid registration sticker, and has sat inoperable for more than 72 consecutive hours on public property or 30 consecutive days on private property. Any junked vehicle visible from a public street or right-of-way is declared a public nuisance. The code enforcement director can order removal after 10 days' written notice to the owner, lienholders, and property occupant, followed by a municipal court hearing if requested. Vehicles enclosed in a building, held by a licensed dealer, or preserved by a registered antique-vehicle collector are exempt.
Violations & Fines
Maintaining the nuisance is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $200, with the court ordering abatement; each day the vehicle remains past a removal order is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a junked vehicle sit in my Odessa driveway?
What happens if I don't move a junked vehicle after notice?
Are classic cars exempt from Odessa's junked vehicle rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Odessa
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Odessa to another location·View the Texas parking rules overview
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