St. Martin Parish, LA Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Article II of Chapter 24 of the St. Martin Parish Code, Junk Vehicles, starts with Section 24-19. A motor vehicle belonging to a known or unknown owner is classified as abandoned, junked and derelict when the parish has seized it or otherwise holds it for illegal parking or stationing, or when, upon certification by the sheriff or any of his deputies or the president of the parish council, it has been unclaimed, unattended, or left idle for a period of 60 days on any public property, including state highways, outside of incorporated municipalities. Such vehicles are sold and disposed of as the article provides. Section 24-20 authorizes the president of the parish council to cause the vehicle to be towed from its location and disposed of according to state law.

Article III, Property on Public Roads, covers junk in the road corridor. Section 24-44 makes it unlawful to store or abandon junk, wrecked or used automobiles, or motor vehicles, or any part of them, or other discarded machinery or metal, on the right-of-way of any public road forming part of the parish road system or on any public drainage right-of-way. Section 24-45 has the parish president or a designee remove the items and hold them for claiming by the owner within ten days from the date notice is published in the official journal. An owner who reclaims within that period pays $1.00 per day for each day of storage plus the reasonable cost of removal. Unclaimed property is sold by the parish president for the best available price, and the balance after removal and storage costs goes to the parish general fund.

Private property falls under Article I. Section 24-1 defines a nuisance to include a condition that reflects the storage or abandonment of junk, wrecked, or used automobiles or motor vehicles or parts. Section 24-3 gives the owner 60 days from notice, served by a law enforcement agent, certified mail, or publication, to remove the nuisance or show cause at a public hearing of the parish council. Section 24-106(a) also governs residential property with enough junk accumulation to endanger the public's health, safety, or welfare.