Twin Falls, ID Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Chapter 5 of Title 6 (Wrecked, Abandoned Vehicles, Equipment) of the Twin Falls City Code covers more than cars. Section 6-5-1 defines motor vehicles as any vehicle propelled or drawn by power other than muscular power, including automobiles, trucks, trailers, motorcycles, tractors, buggies or wagons. The same section defines household goods and equipment, machinery and miscellaneous property, and § 6-5-2 applies the same prohibition to all four categories.

Public property has no waiting period. Under § 6-5-2(A) no person shall place, allow, discard, maintain, park or store any dismantled, abandoned, nonoperating, junked, damaged or destroyed item on a public street, alley, sidewalk or other public property within the city.

Private property has a forty eight hour limit. Under § 6-5-2(B) an owner, tenant, occupant, lessee or anyone else in control of private property cannot place, allow or store those items there for more than forty eight hours. Two exceptions apply: items housed within an enclosed building on the property, and property lawfully operated as a business where the items are part of the business and necessary to it, if kept within an area completely enclosed by a screening fence so they are not visible to the public or to neighboring property owners.

Enforcement starts with a warning. Under § 6-5-2(C) city employees can issue warning notices, and if the violation is not corrected by the reinspection date on the notice, a civil penalty of $100 can be assessed for the first violation, $200 for the second and $300 for the third and subsequent violations during the same calendar year. Section 6-5-2(D) adds a misdemeanor punishable by up to sixty days in jail and/or a $300 fine, and costs the city or another party spent bringing the property into compliance can be charged as restitution in the criminal case.

Removal is a separate step. Section 6-5-3 lets the police department impound and remove property in violation and sell it at public or private auction, with the cost of removal included in any fine. Under § 6-5-4 towing and storage costs become a lien in favor of the city against the vehicle, with storage set at $4.00 for the first day and $1.00 for each day thereafter.