Anne Arundel County Code Article 12 treats a vehicle as abandoned after 48 hours on a public street or 30 days on private property without consent. Inoperative/unregistered vehicles on residential property must be garaged or screened under Article 18.
Under Article 12 of the Anne Arundel County Code and Maryland Transportation §25-201 et seq., a motor vehicle left on a public street or right-of-way for more than 48 hours without being moved is presumed abandoned and may be tagged. After the tagging period, the Police Department authorizes a tow to an impound lot. On private property (including yards visible from the right-of-way), any inoperative or unregistered vehicle must be stored inside an enclosed garage or be screened from the street by an opaque fence or vegetation per Article 18. A vehicle is inoperative if it has flat tires, missing parts required for operation, expired registration, or is incapable of being driven. Hobbyist repair is permitted in driveways for up to 72 hours if actively being worked on. Saltwater marinas along the Severn and South River frequently have abandoned trailered boats which also fall under this code when stored on residential lots.
48-hour tag + tow: owner pays tow ($250+) and storage ($30–$50/day) to reclaim. Unscreened junk vehicle on private property: code citation $100 first offense, $500 continuing. Failure to abate: county-ordered tow and lien against property.
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