Virginia Beach, VA Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Virginia law and Virginia Beach ordinance define abandoned motor vehicles through two parallel tracks. On public property, Va. Code section 46.2-1200.1 and City Code section 21-389 authorize the police or code enforcement to mark any vehicle that appears to be junked, disassembled, or without current license plates and valid registration as abandoned. A 48-hour warning tag is attached; if the vehicle is not moved or made compliant, it is towed to the city contract storage lot. The owner must pay towing (currently around $150-$200), storage fees ($35-$50 per day), and any outstanding tickets before release. If unclaimed within 30 days, the vehicle goes to Department of Motor Vehicles non-repairable or salvage auction under Va. Code section 46.2-1202. On private residential property, inoperable vehicles (any vehicle without a current license plate and inspection sticker or that cannot run under its own power) are limited to one per parcel and must be (1) inside a garage or (2) shielded from public view by a 6-foot-minimum fence or evergreen landscaping. More than one inoperable vehicle, or unscreened storage, is a Class 4 misdemeanor (up to $250 fine) under VB City Code section 23-58. Code enforcement issues a 10-day compliance notice; failure to comply authorizes the city to tow at owner expense and place a lien on the property for unpaid costs. Recreational vehicles, boats, and trailers with current registration are exempt from inoperable vehicle rules but still must comply with residential storage screening and setback rules. Owners whose vehicles have been impounded can check the Virginia Beach Police impound lookup or call the non-emergency line for location.