Winnebago County, WI Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Abandonment threshold
- 72 hours unattended
- Applies to
- unincorporated areas only
- Notice before sale
- 10 days, certified mail
- Enforcement
- Sheriff's Department
- Sale method
- sealed bid or auction
Summary
Winnebago County treats any motor vehicle, trailer, or mobile home left unattended over 72 hours on public or private property as abandoned. The Sheriff's Department can impound, store, and eventually sell it after notifying the owner and lienholders.
No person shall leave unattended any motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer or mobile home on any public highway or private or public property, for such time and under such circumstances as to cause the vehicle to reasonably appear to have been abandoned. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, whenever any vehicle has been left unattended without the permission of the property owner for more than 72 hours, the vehicle is deemed abandoned and constitutes a public nuisance. A motor vehicle shall not be considered an abandoned motor vehicle when it is out of ordinary public view, or when designated as not abandoned by the Sheriff or his duly authorized representative.
(4) Removal and Impoundment of Abandoned Vehicles:
(a) Removal. Any Sheriff's deputy who discovers any motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer,
Revised 06/20/2020 _______ Chapter 9 - Public Peace and Good Order
or mobile home on any public highway or private or public property which has been abandoned shall cause the vehicle to be removed to a suitable place of impoundment. Upon removal of the vehicle, the deputy shall notify the Sheriff of the abandonment and of the location of the impounded vehicle.
Full Breakdown
Under Ch. 9 § 9.04, a vehicle left unattended without the property owner's permission for more than 72 hours in unincorporated Winnebago County is deemed abandoned and a public nuisance. A Sheriff's deputy who finds one must have it towed to impoundment; the owner is notified by certified mail and gets a minimum 10-day window to reclaim it before the County sells it by sealed bid or auction, or junks it if towing costs would exceed its value.
Violations & Fines
The vehicle's owner is responsible for all towing, storage, and disposal costs and can be sued in civil court for any unrecovered amount. After a 10-day reclamation notice goes unanswered, the owner forfeits all right, title, and interest and the County may sell the vehicle.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a vehicle sit before it counts as abandoned?
Who pays to remove and store it?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Winnebago County
Compare Winnebago County to another location·View the Wisconsin parking rules overview
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