Texas City, TX Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Section 94.025 of the Texas City Code of Ordinances defines and regulates abandoned and junked vehicles. A vehicle is abandoned if it has remained illegally on public property for more than 48 hours, has remained on private property without the consent of the owner or person in charge for more than 48 hours, or has been left unattended for more than 48 hours on the right-of-way of a designated county, state or federal highway. A junked vehicle is a self-propelled or non-motored vehicle, including trailers, that lacks an unexpired license plate or a valid inspection certificate and is wrecked, dismantled, discarded, or inoperable for more than 72 consecutive hours on public property or 30 consecutive days on private property. Aircraft and watercraft without current registration are also covered.

An abandoned vehicle, junked vehicle or vehicle part located where it is visible from a public place or public right-of-way is declared a public nuisance. The Fire Marshal, or a city employee under his or her direction, administers the section and can enter private property to examine vehicles and obtain the identity of the vehicle.

The abatement process runs on a schedule. The Fire Marshal gives not less than a ten-day notice by certified mail with a five-day return requested to the owner or occupant, the last known registered owner and each lienholder of record. The notice must say the nuisance must be removed within ten days and that a hearing request must be made to the Texas City Municipal Court of Record before the period ends. If a hearing is requested it is held before removal, not earlier than the eleventh day after service. If none is requested, the court enters a removal order. Notice goes to the State Department of Highways and Public Transportation within five days after removal, and a junked vehicle can be disposed of at a scrap yard or demolisher. Once removed, it cannot be reconstructed or made operable. Moving the vehicle to another location where it stays in violation is an unlawful continuance.

The section exempts vehicles completely enclosed in a building, vehicles stored lawfully for a licensed dealer or junkyard, and antique or special interest vehicles stored by a collector, if screened by a fence, rapidly growing trees, shrubbery or other appropriate means. Division (H) also makes open storage of an abandoned motor vehicle unlawful in every zoning district.