Waukegan, IL Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Street violation
- No grace period, immediate tow authority
- Private property grace period
- 72 hours
- Posted-notice removal window
- 7 days before impoundment
- Penalty range
- $5.00 to $500.00 per conviction
- Impound sale
- After 30 days, 10-20 days' notice
Summary
Waukegan bans junked, wrecked or unlicensed vehicles from any street outright, and gives private property owners only 72 hours before an abandoned vehicle must be enclosed in a building or removed. Violators face fines from $5 to $500.
Sec. 21-276. It shall be unlawful for any person to park, store or leave any unlicensed motor vehicle or any licensed motor vehicle that is in a junked, wrecked, partially dismantled, inoperative or abandoned condition, whether attended or not, or parts thereof, upon any part of any street or way within the city at any time. ... Sec. 21-277. It shall be unlawful for any person to park, store or leave... any licensed motor vehicle which is in a junked, wrecked, partially dismantled, inoperative or abandoned condition... upon any private property within the city for a period of time in excess of 72 hours, unless such vehicle or part thereof is completely enclosed within a building
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 113).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 21-276 makes it unlawful to park, store or leave any unlicensed motor vehicle, or any licensed vehicle that is junked, wrecked, partially dismantled, inoperative or abandoned, on any street or way in the city at any time, whether attended or not. On private property the rule is time-limited rather than absolute: Sec. 21-277 bars keeping such a vehicle on private property for more than 72 hours unless it is completely enclosed within a building or stored in connection with a licensed repair, dismantling or junking business on property zoned to permit that storage.
Enforcement differs by location. Under Sec. 21-278(a), the chief of police may have a street-side violation towed straight to a vehicle pound. For a private-property violation under Sec. 21-277, the director of community development and enforcement must first post the vehicle with a notice; if it is not removed within seven days of posting, the director's agency causes it to be towed and impounded. Sec. m. Friday through a holiday), describing the vehicle, its location, the basis for removal, and the owner's right to a post-tow hearing within seven days, after which the right is forfeited.
An impounded vehicle may be sold after 30 days under Sec. 21-281 following at least 10 days' written notice to the owner, or 20 days' published notice if the owner cannot be found. Sec. 00 per conviction.
Violations & Fines
Leaving a junked or unlicensed vehicle on a street violates Sec. 21-276 with no grace period and can result in immediate impoundment by the chief of police; on private property, Sec. 21-277 allows 72 hours before a seven-day posted notice under Sec. 21-278(b) leads to towing, with fines of $5.00 to $500.00 per conviction under Sec. 21-282.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can an abandoned vehicle sit on my private property in Waukegan?
What happens after Waukegan posts a notice on my abandoned car?
What is the fine for an abandoned vehicle violation in Waukegan?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Waukegan
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