Ventura County, CA Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Nuisance declaration
- Abandoned/inoperative vehicles (Sec. 6281-1)
- Abandonment prohibited
- Without owner consent (Sec. 6288-3)
- Pre-removal notice
- Notice + hearing right (Sec. 6281-2, 6282-1)
- Street 72-hour authority
- CVC 22651(k)
- General removal authority
- CVC 22669
Summary
Ventura County declares abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles on public or private property a public nuisance subject to abatement and removal (Ordinance Code Division 6, Chapter 2, Articles 7 and 7.1). Abandoning a vehicle without the property owner's consent is prohibited (Sec. 6288-3). State law (CVC 22651(k), 22669) backs removal.
22651. A peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, or a regularly employed and salaried employee who is engaged in directing traffic or enforcing parking laws and regulations of a city, county, or jurisdiction of a state agency in which a vehicle is located may remove a vehicle located within the territorial limits in which the officer or employee may act, under the following circumstances: (a) If a vehicle is left unattended upon a bridge, viaduct, or causeway or in a tube or tunnel where the vehicle constitutes an obstruction to traffic.
Full Breakdown
Unincorporated Ventura County addresses abandoned vehicles through its Ordinance Code, Division 6 (Police Regulations), Chapter 2 (Public Protection). Article 7 (Abandoned or Inoperative Motor Vehicles) declares such vehicles, including parts, on private or public property a public nuisance to be abated and removed (Sec. 6281-1). Before removal, the County generally serves a notice of intention to abate or remove the vehicle, with the owner given the chance to request a hearing (Sec. 6281-2, 6282-1); notice is not required for certain vehicles, such as those so dismantled they cannot be operated.
1 (Abandoned Vehicles) separately prohibits abandonment: Sec. 6288-3 makes it unlawful to abandon a vehicle on public or private property without the express or implied consent of the owner or person in lawful control of the property. These County provisions operate alongside the California Vehicle Code, which provides the 72-hour removal authority for vehicles left on a highway (CVC 22651(k)) and the general abandoned-vehicle removal authority (CVC 22669) used by County-designated officers and abatement contractors. To report an abandoned vehicle in the unincorporated county, residents contact the County's public works/code enforcement channels rather than a city police department.
Violations & Fines
Leaving a wrecked, dismantled, inoperative, or abandoned vehicle on a road, public property, or private property can trigger nuisance abatement, removal, and disposal at the owner's expense under Articles 7 and 7.1. Abandoning a vehicle on someone else's property without consent violates Sec. 6288-3. A vehicle on a public road over 72 hours is removable under CVC 22651(k).
Frequently Asked Questions
When is a vehicle considered abandoned in unincorporated Ventura County?
How do I report an abandoned vehicle in the unincorporated county?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ventura County
California rules heatmap·Compare Ventura County to another location·View the California parking rules overview
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