Jefferson County, CO Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

§42-4-1802(1)(a) defines an "abandoned motor vehicle" as one left unattended on public property, including a highway right-of-way, outside the limits of any incorporated town or city for 48 hours or more, which is exactly Jeffco's unincorporated status. Under §42-4-1802(7) the tow company must be an "operator," a Public Utilities Commission-licensed towing carrier, and "public property" (§1802(8)) reaches any land held by the county or other government entity. Section 42-4-1803(1)(a) prohibits abandoning any vehicle on public property and directs a sheriff, deputy, marshal, or state patrol officer with reasonable grounds to have it removed to a designated impound lot.

Under §42-4-1804, the responsible law enforcement agency must report the vehicle to CDOT within 10 working days, then mail the owner and any lienholder notice that the vehicle is subject to sale unless claimed within 30 calendar days of the notice's postmark; the owner may request a hearing on the legality of the tow in writing within 10 days of that same postmark. Jefferson County's own Operation and Parking of Vehicles Ordinance (Section H, Resolution CC23-211) supplements this for highway parking specifically: officers must post a written 72-hour notice before towing, and any vehicle still unclaimed 48 hours after impoundment is prosecuted as abandoned under this same Title 42, Article 4, Part 18 framework.

Junk vehicles abandoned on someone's own or a neighbor's private land fall under a different statute, Part 21 of Title 42, Article 4, not covered by these public-property provisions.