Mendocino County, CA Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Mendocino County Code Section 15.28.010 makes it unlawful and an infraction to abandon, park, store, or leave any licensed or unlicensed vehicle (or part) in an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative condition on public or private property for more than 10 days, unless it is fully enclosed in a building or screened behind a six-foot solid fence so it is not visible from the street, or is part of a licensed dismantler or dealer operation. Section 15.28.020 declares such vehicles a public nuisance abatable under California Vehicle Code Sections 22660 and 22661. The Director of Planning and Building Services administers the chapter (Section 15.28.030). Abatement begins with a notice of vehicle abatement served on the property owner and registered owner (Section 15.28.050); the notice states the County's intent to abate the vehicle 15 days after service, and gives the owner 10 days to request a hearing before the Board of Supervisors (Section 15.28.060). Separately, the County's Abandoned Vehicle Abatement program (a Service Authority established under CVC Section 22710 and funded by a $1 DMV registration assessment) removes vehicles abandoned on public County roads, tagging them under CVC Sections 22669 and 22661 with a 10-day notice. The program serves unincorporated Mendocino County plus the Cities of Ukiah, Willits, and Fort Bragg.