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Summit County, OH Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified July 2026

Key Facts

State law
ORC 4513.63
Township removal
ORC 505.871, 14-day notice
Age threshold
Three years or older
Value threshold
$1,500 or less
Time on property
48 hours without permission

Summary

Ohio law lets officials remove abandoned junk motor vehicles. Under ORC 4513.63 a vehicle left on private property 48 hours or more without permission, three-plus years old, wrecked, inoperable, and worth $1,500 or less can be seized and disposed of.

City-specific rules exist: Akron has its own abandoned vehicles rules that differ from Summit County's county-level regulations. If you live in Akron, check the city-specific page instead.

If a junk motor vehicle is located on private property, the board of township trustees may provide in the resolution for the removal of the vehicle not sooner than fourteen days after the board serves written notice of its intention to remove or cause the removal of the vehicle on the owner of the land and any holders of liens of record on the land.

Full Breakdown

This is a genuine countywide angle. Ohio Revised Code 4513.63 defines an abandoned junk motor vehicle and authorizes law enforcement to have it photographed and disposed of to a salvage or scrap facility, with records kept two years and an affidavit filed with the county clerk within 30 days. In the townships, ORC 505.871 lets the township trustees declare junk vehicles on private property a nuisance and remove them after 14 days' written notice to the owner. Cities enforce their own junk-vehicle ordinances. The Summit County Sheriff handles abandoned vehicles on unincorporated roads.

Violations & Fines

The vehicle is towed and sold for salvage; the owner is billed removal and storage costs, which can become a lien on the property or a debt collectible by the township or county.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is a car legally abandoned in Ohio?
Under ORC 4513.63, when it sits 48+ hours without permission, is 3+ years old, wrecked, inoperable, and worth $1,500 or less.
How does a township remove a junk vehicle?
Under ORC 505.871, trustees serve 14 days' written notice on the landowner and lienholders, then may remove the vehicle and bill the cost.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Summit County

All Summit County rules

Compare Summit County to another location·View the Ohio parking rules overview

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Abandoned Vehicles in Cities Across Summit County