Spring Hill, TN Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Street or alley limit
- 48 hours for a non-compliant vehicle
- Private property limit
- 14 days for a non-compliant vehicle
- Vehicle types covered
- Inoperable, unlicensed or abandoned motor vehicles
- Exception
- Vehicles wholly concealed in a garage, barn or permanent building
- Classification
- Misdemeanor offense and public nuisance
- Abatement cost
- Reverts to and is payable by the property owner
Summary
Section 15-706 of the Spring Hill Municipal Code prohibits storing a non-compliant (inoperable, unlicensed or abandoned) motor vehicle in the City of Spring Hill, Tennessee. It sets a 48-hour limit on a public alley, street or highway and a 14-day limit on any real property, and it labels a violation a misdemeanor offense and a public nuisance.
(A) Storage of any non-compliant (inoperable, unlicensed or abandoned) motor vehicle on any real property, alley, street or highway within the corporate limits of the city is prohibited pursuant to the following subsections. A violation of this section will constitute a misdemeanor offense. (B) It shall be unlawful for any owner of a non-compliant vehicle to allow said vehicle to remain on any public alley, street or highway for a period longer than 48 hours. ... (D) It shall be unlawful for any owner of a non-compliant vehicle to allow said vehicle to remain on any real property for a period longer than 14 days. ... (F) Inoperable or unlicensed motor vehicles wholly concealed from public view as in a garage, barn or other permanent building are excepted from the aforementioned subsections (A) through (D) above. ... (H) Any violation of this section is deemed to be a public nuisance and the city or its agents can take reasonable actions to abate the violation with the cost of such actions to revert back to and, upon said property owner, due and payable to the city.
Full Breakdown
Section 15-706 covers three kinds of non-compliant motor vehicle, all defined in subsection (G). An INOPERABLE motor vehicle is one that cannot be propelled by its own engine or motor or would be hazardous to operate; the prima facie examples are missing wheels, deflated tires, missing parts required for proper operation ("stripped"), a wrecked vehicle that requires repair to be operated safely, or one burned throughout ("gutted"). An UNLICENSED motor vehicle is one that does not display a current and valid state registration plate, a valid dealer tag or temporary driving permit. An ABANDONED motor vehicle is one left on public or private property with no owner or operator in close proximity and a reasonable search of public records cannot establish ownership.
Two time limits apply, and each binds both the vehicle owner and the occupant or owner of the real property. On any public alley, street or highway, a non-compliant vehicle cannot remain longer than 48 hours; subsection (C) extends that duty to the occupant or owner of real property for a vehicle on the adjacent public alley, street or highway. On any real property, the limit is 14 days under subsections (D) and (E).
Subsection (F) carves out inoperable or unlicensed vehicles wholly concealed from public view, as in a garage, barn or other permanent building, from subsections (A) through (D).
Subsection (H) deems any violation a public nuisance. The city or its agents can take reasonable actions to abate the violation, and the cost reverts to and is due and payable by the property owner to the city.
On streets, § 15-704 adds a second tool: members of the Police Department can remove and impound any unattended vehicle that is illegally parked, abandoned or an obstruction or hazard, and a vehicle left on a street or alley for more than 72 consecutive hours without the Chief of Police's permission is presumed abandoned if the owner cannot be located after a reasonable investigation. The impound fee is $5 plus $1 per day of storage.
Violations & Fines
Subsection (A) states that a violation of § 15-706 constitutes a misdemeanor offense, and subsection (H) makes it a public nuisance that the city can abate at the property owner's cost. Section 15-705 separately classifies violations of Title 15 as civil offenses, with parking citations at $25 for a first offense and $50 for later offenses. Impounded vehicles cost $5 plus $1 per day to store under § 15-704.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can an inoperable car sit in my yard in Spring Hill, Tennessee?
What counts as an inoperable vehicle under the Spring Hill code?
How long can an unregistered car stay parked on a Spring Hill street?
Who pays if the city removes a junk vehicle in Spring Hill?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Spring Hill
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