Martin County, FL Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Private-property limit
- 5 days for junked/abandoned vehicle (§91.34.A)
- Public right-of-way
- Abandoned vehicles banned outright (§91.33)
- Repair exception
- 1 vehicle, garaged or screened, work 9a-8p
- Notice period
- 10 days posted before removal/destruction
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, separate offense per day
- Civil option
- County may also seek an injunction (§91.40)
- Applies
- Unincorporated Martin County only
Summary
Martin County bans leaving a junked, salvage or abandoned vehicle anywhere in the unincorporated county, including on private property beyond five days, unless the lot is zoned for junkyard use. A narrow exception lets an owner keep one vehicle for personal repair if it is garaged or screened from view.
91.34.A. Generally. No person in charge of or in control of any property in Martin County, Florida, outside of municipalities, whether as owner, tenant, occupant, lessee or otherwise, shall allow any salvage, junked or abandoned vehicle or salvage or junk to remain on such property longer than five days except in areas zoned or approved for junkyard use.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 62 | Land Development Regulations: Supplement 62).
Full Breakdown
Article 2 of Chapter 91 (Junk and Junkyards) governs abandoned, salvage or junked vehicles in unincorporated Martin County. Sec. 32 bars abandoning a vehicle or salvage anywhere in the county except temporarily during an emergency, and separately bars leaving a vehicle under circumstances that make it reasonably appear abandoned. Sec. 33 flatly prohibits leaving a salvage, junked or abandoned vehicle on any road, street, alley, highway or public easement. On private property, Sec. A caps how long an owner, tenant or occupant may let a salvage, junked or abandoned vehicle sit at five days, unless the property is zoned or approved for junkyard use.
Sec. daily, and it cannot be used for commercial repair work or a licensed salvage business. When the Sheriff, the Board of County Commissioners or the Growth Management Director identifies a violation, Secs. 37 require posting a written notice (at least 8 by 10 inches, weatherproof for ten days) on the public or private property respectively, plus mailed notice to the owner where the address is reasonably available. If the vehicle is not removed within ten days, Secs. 38 authorize the County to remove and destroy it, keeping any salvage value toward removal costs.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 91.39 makes any violation of Article 2 a misdemeanor, punishable under Florida's general misdemeanor penalties, with each day a violation continues or is permitted to continue treated as a separate offense. Sec. 91.40 lets the Board of County Commissioners or the Growth Management Director additionally pursue a civil injunction against the violation, on top of criminal prosecution, and Sec. 91.41 shields county officials from civil or criminal liability for good-faith trespass while enforcing the article.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I keep a junked car in my driveway in unincorporated Martin County?
Can I keep a project car I'm restoring at home?
What happens if I ignore the county's notice to remove an abandoned vehicle?
Does this rule apply inside Stuart?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Martin County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Martin County to another location·View the Florida parking rules overview
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