Bay County prohibits leaving abandoned, wrecked, or unregistered vehicles on public streets or in view on private property. Code enforcement tags them and, after a notice period, has them towed at the owner's expense.
A vehicle left on a public street in the same spot for roughly 72 hours, or an inoperable, wrecked, or expired-tag vehicle stored where it's visible from the street, can be declared abandoned under county and city code and Florida's abandoned-property law. Code enforcement notifies the registered owner, then arranges towing if it isn't moved or brought into compliance. On private residential lots, junk and inoperable vehicles must be inside an enclosed garage or screened from view. This drew extra attention after Hurricane Michael, when storm-damaged and derelict vehicles lingered across Panama City and Callaway. Certain vehicles actively under repair with proof may be exempt.
Notice periods run from about 72 hours to 10 days depending on the code. Towing and storage are billed to the owner, often $150 to $500-plus, with added fines for repeat violations.
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