Westminster, CO Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Colorado defines an abandoned motor vehicle in five ways under § 42-4-1802(1). Outside any incorporated town or city, a vehicle left unattended on public property, including a highway right-of-way, for 48 hours or longer is abandoned. Inside city limits like Westminster, the same 48-hour default applies only if the city has not set its own limit by ordinance; a locally adopted limit controls instead. 9. Section 42-4-1803(1)(a) makes it unlawful for any person to abandon a motor vehicle on public property, and it directs any sheriff, deputy, police officer, marshal, Colorado State Patrol officer, or CBI agent who has reasonable grounds to believe a vehicle is abandoned to have it removed and stored at a law enforcement-designated impound lot.

Section 42-4-1804 then requires the responsible agency to check whether the vehicle was reported stolen, run its VIN and plate through the Department of Revenue within ten working days, and, once the registered owner and any lienholder are identified, mail certified notice; the notice must state that the vehicle will be sold if not claimed within 30 calendar days of the postmark. , unless another penalty is specified. Section 42-4-1813 lets a municipality like Westminster supersede Part 18 by its own ordinance or resolution covering removal, storage and disposal of abandoned vehicles, so long as it does not strip an operator's lien rights already attached under state law.