Westminster, CA Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

The City of Westminster addresses abandoned vehicles both on streets and on private property. On public streets, Westminster Municipal Code Chapter 10.44 prohibits parking or storing any motor or nonmotorized vehicle for more than 72 consecutive hours, and the code defines storing in one location to include re-parking within two-tenths of a mile of any spot used in the preceding 72 hours, preventing simple shuffling. Residents may report an abandoned vehicle to the Westminster Police Department at (714) 898-3315; an officer evaluates and marks the vehicle, and if it is not moved within 72 hours of being marked, the Traffic Bureau will tow it. On private property, the city's code enforcement program prohibits storing inoperative, wrecked, abandoned, dismantled, or unlicensed vehicles or parts in public view, unless they are inside an enclosed building or at a licensed dismantler or storage facility. For private commercial property that is properly posted, owners may arrange a private tow; on a single-family residence, the owner may have a vehicle towed after notifying local law enforcement under California Vehicle Code 22658(a). These provisions combine the city's own code with state authority for removal of abandoned or inoperable vehicles.