San Jose, CA Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Grace period
- 30 days to fix violation
- Then
- 10-day notice of intent to abate
- Enforcing agency
- Director of Neighborhood Preservation
- Exemptions
- Enclosed garage, fenced yard, licensed dismantler
- Cost recovery
- Assessed against property or vehicle owner
Summary
San Jose treats an abandoned, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle left on private or public property as a public nuisance under SJMC Chapter 11.104, enforced by the Department of Neighborhood Preservation with abatement and cost recovery.
A. The presence of abandoned, dismantled or inoperative vehicles, or parts thereof, on private property or public property, is declared to constitute a public nuisance which may be abated in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. B. No person shall maintain or keep an abandoned, dismantled or inoperative vehicle on his or her property or public property except in accordance with this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 5 Update 3).
Full Breakdown
San Jose Municipal Code Chapter 11.104 makes it unlawful under § 11.104.010 to keep an abandoned, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle on private or public property. § 11.104.020 defines an abandoned vehicle as one left parked for thirty days on property other than the owner's. Vehicles enclosed in a garage, hidden in a fenced yard, or held by a licensed dismantler or dealer are exempt under § 11.104.040. The Director of Neighborhood Preservation issues a notice of violation with a thirty-day grace period (§ 11.104.050), then a ten-day notice of intent to abate (§ 11.104.060) before removal, with a right to an appeals hearing board hearing.
Violations & Fines
Keeping an abandoned, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle on private or public property without an exemption violates § 11.104.010(B); the city can abate, remove, and assess costs against the property or vehicle owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as an abandoned vehicle in San Jose?
Is there a grace period before the city removes the vehicle?
Are vehicles in an enclosed garage covered?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Jose
California rules heatmap·Compare San Jose to another location·View the California parking rules overview
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Abandoned Vehicles in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Santa Clara County handle abandoned vehicles.