Pleasanton, CA Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Ch. 11.44
- Enforced by
- Chief of Police
- Standard notice period
- 10 days
- Fast-track threshold
- Vehicle valued under $200
- Appeal window
- 5 days to city council
- Default penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to $1,000 / 6 months
Summary
Chapter 11.44 declares abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles a public nuisance on any public or private property in Pleasanton. The chief of police can order removal after a 10-day written notice, but the vehicle's owner or the landowner has the right to demand a hearing before it goes to the scrapyard.
Except as provided in subsection B of this section, a 10-day notice of intention to abate and remove the vehicle, or parts thereof, as a public nuisance shall be secured to the vehicle and a copy of the notice shall be either: (1) served personally on the owner of the vehicle and the owner of the land, (2) mailed by registered or certified mail to the owner of the vehicle and the owner of the land, or (3) posted to the door of the house, apartment, building, or other structure on the property on which the vehicle, or parts thereof, are situated.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4955754; v17 updated 2026-06-02).
Full Breakdown
020 finds that stored wrecks reduce property values, promote blight, invite plundering, create fire hazards, attract minors into a hazardous 'attractive nuisance,' and harbor rodents and insects, which is the basis for treating them as a public nuisance abatable under this chapter. 060, including entering private property to inspect a suspect vehicle. 100 requires a 10-day notice of intent to abate, served personally, by registered or certified mail, or posted on the structure at the site, naming both the vehicle's registered owner and the landowner; either may request a public hearing within that 10-day window, and the owner of the land may instead submit a sworn statement denying responsibility. 100(B) if the landowner signs a release. 140. 5. 040.
Violations & Fines
Section 11.44.180 separately bars obstructing, impeding or interfering with any city employee performing an abatement, inspection or posting under this chapter. Chapter 11.44 is not among the chapters § 1.12.020 designates as infractions, so a violation defaults to the general penalty in § 1.12.010: a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in county jail, or both, with each continuing day counted as a separate violation under § 1.12.030.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Pleasanton force removal of a wrecked car from my own backyard?
What if I disagree that my vehicle is abandoned in Pleasanton?
Are vehicles at a licensed dismantler exempt from Pleasanton's abandoned vehicle rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pleasanton
California rules heatmap·Compare Pleasanton to another location·View the California parking rules overview
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