Kanawha County, WV Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Statute
- W. Va. Code §17-24A
- Abandoned After
- 5 days
- Applies
- Public and private property
- Outcome
- Towed, then sold
- Cities
- Add junk-vehicle rules
Summary
Abandoned and inoperative vehicles in Kanawha County are handled under West Virginia's abandoned-motor-vehicle law, W. Va. Code §17-24A. A vehicle counts as abandoned once it sits over five days on public or private property.
any motor vehicle, or major part thereof, which is inoperative and which has been abandoned on public property for any period over five days, other than in an enclosed building or in a licensed salvage yard or at the business establishment of a demolisher; or any motor vehicle, or major part thereof, which has remained on private property without consent of the owner or person in control of the property for any period over five days
Full Breakdown
The statewide mechanism is W. Va. Code §17-24A, the Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act, which applies in unincorporated Kanawha County alongside city junk-vehicle ordinances. An inoperative vehicle left on public property for more than five days, or left on private property over five days without the owner's consent, meets the statutory definition of abandoned. After notice to the registered owner and any lienholder, the vehicle can be towed and ultimately sold to cover towing and storage costs. Charleston and the other cities add their own inoperable and junked-vehicle nuisance rules requiring screening or removal from view.
Violations & Fines
An abandoned vehicle is towed, stored, and, if unclaimed after statutory notice, sold to satisfy costs; the owner remains liable for towing and storage charges. City junk-vehicle violations add separate fines.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is a vehicle legally abandoned in West Virginia?
Can a junk car be removed from my own property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kanawha County
Compare Kanawha County to another location·View the West Virginia parking rules overview
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