Saint Paul, MN Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Abandoned threshold
- 48+ hours disabled, unsecured, or unplated
- Penalty for owners/occupants
- Petty misdemeanor (Sec. 163.11)
- Reclaim window
- 15 days after notice (Sec. 163.07)
- Immediate auction trigger
- 7+ model years, no vital parts, unplated
- Cost recovery
- Unpaid costs become a special property assessment
Summary
Saint Paul makes it illegal to abandon a motor vehicle on public or private property, or to let one sit abandoned on property you control. Chapter 163 defines 'abandoned' broadly -- more than 48 hours disabled, unsecured, unplated, or with plates over 90 days expired -- and both abandoning and allowing an abandoned vehicle to remain are petty misdemeanors.
(2)Abandoned motor vehicle. "Abandoned motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle, as defined in Minnesota State Statutes, Section 169.011, which has been voluntarily surrendered by its owner to the City of Saint Paul or to a person duly licensed under Minnesota Statutes, Section 168B.09 or which has remained for more than forty-eight (48) hours in a condition described by one of the following:... c.Disabled; d.Not secure from entry; e.Without license plates properly displayed thereon; or f.With license plates which have an expiration date more than ninety (90) days prior to the date of inspection. ... Sec. 163.03. No person in charge or control of private property, whether as owner, tenant, occupant, lessee or otherwise, shall allow an abandoned motor vehicle to remain on such property.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 133 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
01 defines an 'abandoned motor vehicle' as one voluntarily surrendered to the city or a licensed operator, or one that has remained for more than 48 hours in any of several conditions: on public property in violation of city or state law, on private property without the property controller's consent, disabled (partially dismantled, undrivable, or missing essential parts like the motor, drive train or wheels), not secure from entry, without properly displayed license plates, or with plates expired more than 90 days. Exemptions cover classic or pioneer cars kept secure and usable, vehicles on a licensed dealer, junkyard or repair-shop premises, vehicles inside an enclosed garage, and a single vehicle registered to the property's owner or occupant kept secure for repair for no more than 30 days.
03 separately bars any owner, tenant, occupant or lessee in charge of private property from allowing an abandoned vehicle to remain there. 04, entering private property at reasonable hours to inspect and impound. 05; other vehicles get a 10-day notice, then a 15-day right to reclaim by paying towing and storage costs before public sale.
Violations & Fines
Both abandoning a vehicle (Section 163.02) and allowing an abandoned vehicle to remain on property you control (Section 163.03) are petty misdemeanors under Section 163.11. The city can additionally impound and sell the vehicle at public auction, charging unreimbursed towing, storage and notice costs back to the property as a special assessment under Section 163.10.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a disabled car legally sit in my driveway in Saint Paul?
Can I be cited for a neighbor's abandoned car parked on my property?
How does Saint Paul dispose of an abandoned vehicle it impounds?
Sources & Official References
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