Salt Lake City, UT Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Street trigger
- 48 hrs unmoved = nuisance
- Enforcement
- Police or parking officer tow
- Private property
- Junk/abandoned vehicles banned
- Appeal window
- 5 business days after release
- Unclaimed vehicles
- Sold at public auction
Summary
Salt Lake City tows any vehicle left on a public street for more than 48 hours without being moved, and impounds it as a declared nuisance under the city's traffic code.
Any vehicle parked upon a public street for more than forty eight (48) hours without being moved during that period of time... Violation of this chapter shall be a misdemeanor... Any vehicle declared to be a nuisance by the provisions of this chapter may be summarily abated by removing any such vehicle by or under the direction of, or at the request of a police officer or parking enforcement officer to a place of storage within the city by means of towing or otherwise.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-21: Code current through: Ord. 40-26, passed June 16, 2026).
Full Breakdown
City code section 12.96.010 lists seven nuisance-vehicle triggers, including a vehicle parked on a public street more than 48 hours without moving, an unattended vehicle blocking traffic, or one obstructing a fire hydrant. Police officers and parking enforcement officers may tow the vehicle to storage without a hearing first; violation is a misdemeanor. Section 12.96.110 separately lets the city summarily tow, scrap, or dispose of any vehicle determined abandoned and inoperable under Utah Code section 41-1-79.5. On private property, section 21A.40.140 separately bans property owners and tenants from keeping unlicensed, inoperable, unused, or abandoned vehicles on unlicensed premises.
Violations & Fines
Misdemeanor charge plus towing, storage, and (for immobilized vehicles) booting fees set by the city's consolidated fee schedule; unclaimed vehicles are sold at public auction.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a car sit on a Salt Lake City street?
Can I keep a junked car in my yard in Salt Lake City?
Can I appeal a tow?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake City
Compare Salt Lake City to another location·View the Utah parking rules overview
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Abandoned Vehicles in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Salt Lake County handle abandoned vehicles.