Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Orange County, FL Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Heavy Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Scope
Unincorporated county only
Storage required
Enclosed garage or covered carport
Violation class
Class II, $200.00 penalty
Objection window
10 days from notice posting
Removal deadline
15 days, or 5 after hearing
Abandoned trigger
Registration expired 90+ days
Salvage threshold
Nominal value under $125

Summary

In unincorporated Orange County, a wrecked, dismantled, inoperative, abandoned, or severely rusted motor vehicle parked on residentially or agriculturally zoned property, including the street or right-of-way, must sit inside a fully enclosed garage or under a standard cover in a carport. Code enforcement can post a notice, hold a hearing, and remove and destroy the vehicle.

City-specific rules exist: Orlando has its own abandoned vehicles rules that differ from Orange County's county-level regulations. If you live in Orlando, check the city-specific page instead.

No wrecked, discarded, dismantled, partly dismantled, inoperative, abandoned, or severely rusted motor vehicle may be parked on residentially zoned or agriculturally zoned property, including streets and right of ways in such zoned areas, unless it is either parked inside a completely enclosed garage or parked completely within a carport and covered with a standard cover. ... Any motor vehicle which is parked on residentially zoned or agriculturally zoned property, including streets or rights-of-way in such zoned areas, in violation of section 28-75 or 28-76 is declared to be a visual nuisance which is detrimental to the general welfare of the people of the county.

Source: Orange County Code EnforcementView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 128).

Full Breakdown

Under Orange County Code §§ 28-75 and 28-76 (Article III, the 'Ordinance Governing the Parking of Motor Vehicles on Residentially Zoned and Agriculturally Zoned Property'), no wrecked, discarded, dismantled, partly dismantled, inoperative, abandoned, or severely rusted motor vehicle may be parked on residentially or agriculturally zoned property, including the streets and rights-of-way within those zoned areas, unless it sits inside a completely enclosed garage or is parked entirely within a carport under a standard, nontransparent cover made for that vehicle. Section 28-70 defines an 'abandoned, inoperative or discarded motor vehicle' broadly: any vehicle without a current license plate, one whose registration sticker has been expired for at least 90 days, or one showing evidence of neglect such as vegetation grown up under the frame, missing engine or transmission parts, or a salvage value under $125.

The rule applies only in the unincorporated county per Section 28-68; Orlando, Winter Park, Apopka and the county's other municipalities enforce their own vehicle-storage codes. ' If the vehicle sits somewhere other than a street or right-of-way, code enforcement can abate it under Section 28-79's notice-and-hearing process or cite it under the Chapter 11 Code Enforcement Citation Program; a vehicle actually parked in a street or right-of-way can only be cited under the Citation Program. Both routes are Class II violations carrying the reduced civil penalty set in Section 11-67. Section 28-78 makes the property owner, renter, or agent AND the vehicle's owner jointly and individually responsible.

Violations & Fines

A § 28-75/28-76 violation is a Class II offense under § 28-77, carrying the reduced civil penalty set in § 11-67's table: $200.00 (Class I is $100, Class III is $300). Under § 28-79, the enforcement officer posts a written notice on the vehicle; the owner or any interested person has 10 days to file a written objection, which triggers a Code Enforcement Board hearing under Chapter 11 and F.S. ch. 162. Absent objection or removal within 15 days of posting, or within 5 days of an adverse Board ruling, the officer must remove and destroy the vehicle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this rule apply if I live in Orlando or Winter Park?
No. Orange County Code § 28-68 limits this article to the unincorporated county. If your address is in Orlando, Winter Park, Apopka, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Maitland, Belle Isle, Eatonville, Edgewood, Oakland, or Windermere, your city's own code, not this chapter, governs vehicle storage on your property.
What counts as an 'abandoned' vehicle under this code?
Section 28-70 defines it as any vehicle lacking a current license plate, carrying a registration sticker expired 90 or more days, or showing neglect such as vegetation grown up underneath, missing major parts, or a salvage value under $125. A wrecked, severely rusted, or otherwise inoperative vehicle also qualifies.
Can code enforcement really destroy my car?
Yes. Under § 28-79(e), if the owner neither objects within 10 days nor removes the vehicle within 15 days of the posted notice, or fails to remove it within 5 days after the Code Enforcement Board finds a violation, the enforcement officer 'shall cause the motor vehicle to be removed and destroyed.'
How much is the fine?
A Section 28-75 or 28-76 violation is classified Class II under § 28-77, carrying the reduced civil penalty set in § 11-67: $200.00. That is separate from any cost of removing and destroying the vehicle if it is never brought into compliance after the notice and hearing process runs its course.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Orange County

All Orange County rules

Florida rules heatmap·Compare Orange County to another location·View the Florida parking rules overview

Get notified when Abandoned Vehicles in Orange County, FL changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.

Abandoned Vehicles in Cities Across Orange County