Richmond, VA Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

As used in this article: "Abandoned motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer that: 1. Weighs at least 75 pounds; and 2. (i) Is left unattended on public property for more than 48 hours in violation of a state law or local ordinance; (ii) has remained for more than 48 hours on private property without the consent of the property's owner, regardless of whether it was brought onto the private property with the consent of the owner or person in control of the private property; or (iii) is left unattended on the shoulder of a primary highway. "Scrap metal processor" means any person who is engaged in the business of processing motor vehicles into scrap for remelting purposes who, from a fixed location, utilizes machinery and equipment for processing and manufacturing ferrous and nonferrous metallic scrap into prepared grades, and whose principal product is metallic scrap. "Vehicle removal certificate" means a transferable document issued by the Department for any abandoned motor vehicle that authorizes the removal and destruction of the vehicle.