Mobile County, AL Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Mobile County only
- Trigger
- More than 1 unregistered/untagged vehicle
- Exception
- Licensed businesses with operational need
- Enforcement
- Civil suit in Circuit Court, not a fixed fine
- Court can assess
- Abatement costs and attorney's fees
- Junkyard license
- Required within 1,000 ft of a highway
Summary
In unincorporated Mobile County, parking or storing more than one unregistered, untagged motor vehicle in public view on a lot is itself a public nuisance. Section 45-49-170.52 lets the county sue in circuit court to force removal, recovering abatement costs, attorney's fees and court costs from whoever created the nuisance.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), it is unlawful and constitutes a public nuisance for any person to park, leave, or store upon any place or premises in public view within the unincorporated territory of Mobile County more than one motor vehicle which is not currently and validly registered and tagged as required by state law. (b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a licensed business if the parking, leaving, or storing of the motor vehicle is reasonably necessary in the operation of the business, directly or indirectly.
Full Breakdown
52, enacted by Act 94-216 alongside the rest of the public nuisance premises and junkyard subpart, applies only in the unincorporated territory of Mobile County. Subsection (a) makes it unlawful and a public nuisance to park, leave or store more than one motor vehicle in public view on any place or premises that is not currently and validly registered and tagged under state law; subsection (b) carves out a licensed business when storing the vehicle is reasonably necessary, directly or indirectly, to running that business, such as a repair shop's inventory.
53 requires a county license from the license commissioner for any junkyard within 1,000 feet of a highway right-of-way, screened from view by fencing or planting, at an annual fee of $500 to $1,000; operating that kind of junkyard without a license is itself declared a public nuisance. 55). 55, runs through the County Commission rather than a police ticket.
Violations & Fines
Mobile County enforces this rule through civil action, not a fixed criminal fine schedule: under Section 45-49-170.54, the County Commission can sue in the Circuit Court of Mobile County to abate or enjoin the nuisance, and the court may assess all abatement costs, attorney's fees, court costs and other litigation expenses directly against the vehicle's owner. A junkyard operating without the required county license, per Section 45-49-170.53, is itself a public nuisance subject to the same enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many unregistered cars can I keep on my property in unincorporated Mobile County?
Is there an exception for repair shops or dealers?
What happens if I don't move the vehicles?
Does storing junk cars require a junkyard license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mobile County
Compare Mobile County to another location·View the Alabama parking rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.