Portland, ME Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Portland's abandoned-vehicle procedure is administered by the Police Department's Parking Enforcement Division under Chapter 28 of the City Code. Vehicles that appear abandoned (expired registration, deflated tires, accumulated debris, or otherwise unmoved) are tagged with a yellow posting notice. The owner has 10 business days from the date of posting to move, re-register, or remove the vehicle. After 10 business days the vehicle is towed by a contracted tow operator. Once a vehicle is in the possession of a tow/storage facility, Maine Title 29-A Sec. 1854 requires the operator to notify the Maine Secretary of State on a state-provided form within 14 days of the earliest unpaid-charge date, identifying the make/model/year/VIN/plate and noticing any lienholder. The state Bureau of Motor Vehicles' Abandoned Vehicle Notification online portal at apps1.web.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/avn/index.pl handles the title-transfer process if the vehicle is unclaimed. Title 29-A Sec. 1852 defines an 'abandoned' vehicle as one left unattended on a public way without authorization for more than 24 hours (statewide baseline), but Portland's 10-business-day posting policy provides a longer practical grace period before tow.