Wake County, NC Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Private property
- 2 hours w/o consent
- County property
- 24 hours
- Public grounds
- 7 days
- Junked vehicle test
- $100 / 5 yrs / no plate
- Authority
- NCGS §§153A-132, 153A-132.2
Summary
Wake County's authority to remove abandoned and junked motor vehicles comes from NCGS §153A-132. The statute defines an abandoned vehicle as one left on public grounds in violation of a parking law, left more than 24 hours on county property, left more than 2 hours on private property without consent, or left more than 7 days on public grounds.
An 'abandoned motor vehicle' is one that: a. Is left upon a public grounds or county-owned property in violation of a law or ordinance prohibiting parking; b. Is left for longer than 24 hours on property owned or operated by the county; c. Is left for longer than two hours on private property without the consent of the owner, occupant, or lessee of the property; or d. Is left for longer than seven days on public grounds.
Full Breakdown
A 'junked motor vehicle' under §153A-132(b)(2) is an abandoned vehicle that is also partially dismantled or wrecked, cannot be self-propelled, is more than five years old and appears to be worth less than $100, or does not display a current license plate. §153A-132(c) lets Wake County remove such vehicles to a storage garage; but under §153A-132(c1), a vehicle may not be taken from private property without the owner's written request unless the Board of Commissioners or a duly authorized county official has declared it a health or safety hazard. Separately, §160A-303.2 (made applicable to counties by §153A-132.2) lets the county regulate junked-vehicle storage in residential areas where the vehicle is visible from a public street or adjoining property. Inside Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest and other towns, each municipality enforces its own abandoned-vehicle ordinance under §160A-303.
Violations & Fines
After removal, the registered owner must pay tow and storage charges before reclaiming the vehicle. If unclaimed after notice, the vehicle may be sold at public auction under §153A-132(d). Civil penalties for keeping a junked vehicle on residential property are set by local ordinance and the county may obtain an order for removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Wake County tow a car off my driveway?
How fast does a car parked on a street become abandoned?
What makes a vehicle 'junked'?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wake County
Compare Wake County to another location·View the North Carolina parking rules overview
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