Sedona, AZ Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Public-land abandonment
- Unlawful on any street or highway
- Private-property abandonment
- Also unlawful, SCC 8.10.170(A)
- Prima facie abandonment, ROW
- 48 hours unattended
- Prima facie abandonment, elsewhere
- 72 hours unattended
- Junk vehicle storage
- Must be enclosed, hidden from view
- Removal authority
- Chief of police under A.R.S. 28-4801
Summary
Sedona bans abandoning a vehicle on any street, highway, public land or private property, and the police chief can order removal, storage and disposal under state impoundment law. Junk vehicles must be hidden from outside view in an enclosed area while being stored or repaired.
“Abandoned vehicle” means any vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer of a type subject to registration under this article, whether lost, stolen, abandoned or otherwise unclaimed, which has been abandoned on a public highway, public property or elsewhere within the city, including private property. Evidence that a vehicle was left unattended for a period of 48 hours within the right-of-way of a highway, road, street or other public thoroughfare, or for a period of 72 hours on public property or elsewhere within the city including private property, shall be prima facie evidence of abandonment. ... A. No person shall abandon a vehicle upon any street or highway or on any other public land or private property. B. The chief of police, or his designee, is hereby authorized to cause the removal, storage and disposition of abandoned vehicles on public or private property within the corporate limits of the city in accordance with A.R.S. Section 28-4801 et seq.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Initiative Ordinance 2026-01, approved by voters at the July 21, 2026 election).
Full Breakdown
10 treats abandoned and junk vehicles as a public nuisance citywide, whether they sit on a public street or a neighbor's private lot. S. Section 28-4801 et seq. 010. 160 requires that any junk vehicle, defined as one too deteriorated to profitably dismantle, salvage or restore, or any vehicle being repaired or restored, be kept in an enclosed area so it cannot be seen from any point outside the property where it sits. 020(F), which also reaches junk yards, wrecking operations and outdoor storage of worn-out machinery that interferes with neighbors' enjoyment of their property. 010.
Violations & Fines
A first offense is a misdemeanor citation under SCC 8.10.190, punishable per the general penalty schedule in SCC 1.15.010, and every day the vehicle stays put counts as a new violation. The police department can tow, store and dispose of the vehicle under A.R.S. Section 28-4801 et seq. regardless of whether it sits on public or private land.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Sedona tow a car left on my street for two days?
Is it legal to store a junk car in my driveway in Sedona?
How long can an abandoned vehicle sit on private property in Sedona?
What is the penalty for an abandoned vehicle violation in Sedona?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sedona
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