Wichita, KS Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Kansas Statute Section 8-1102 governs abandoned vehicles statewide and is enforced in Wichita by the Police Department and Office of Central Inspection. A vehicle is considered abandoned when left unattended on a public street or right-of-way for more than 48 hours, on public property other than a street for more than 24 hours, or on private property without the owner's consent for more than 24 hours. Vehicles parked on private residential property such as a driveway or yard may also be tagged as nuisances if they are inoperable, lack current registration, are missing major components such as wheels or windows, or are leaking fluids. The city must post a 24-hour notice on the vehicle and attempt to notify the registered owner before towing. After impoundment, the owner has approximately 30 days to claim the vehicle and pay accumulated towing and storage fees before the vehicle may be sold at public auction or processed as junk. Property owners may also have unauthorized vehicles removed from their land at the vehicle owner's expense by following the same notice procedure under state law. Inoperable vehicles stored long-term must be screened from view inside an enclosed structure or behind an opaque fence.