Richmond, CA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Note
- RMC Chapter 9.22 + CA Vehicle Code §22660 govern abatement
- Requirement
- Private property: must be enclosed or behind 6-ft screening fence
- 72-Hour Rule
- Vehicles cannot sit 72+ hours
- Note
- 10-day notice before tow; hearing available
- Note
- Tow costs become a lien on property if unpaid
Summary
Richmond prohibits inoperable, wrecked, dismantled, or abandoned vehicles from being stored on private property visible from the street or on any public right-of-way. Violations are abated under RMC Chapter 9.22 and CA Vehicle Code §22660, with tow authority after a 10-day notice.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a city, county, or city and county may adopt an ordinance establishing procedures for the abatement and removal, as public nuisances, of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles or parts thereof from private or public property, and for the recovery, pursuant to Section 25845 or 38773.5 of the Government Code, or assumption by the local authority, of costs of administration and the removal.
Full Breakdown
22 (Abandoned Vehicle Abatement) and California Vehicle Code §§22660-22664, which declare abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles on private or public property a public nuisance subject to removal. A vehicle is considered "inoperative" if it lacks current registration, cannot be lawfully driven (missing tires, engine, major components), or has been stationary in the same spot for more than 72 hours on a public street (per Vehicle Code §22651(k)). On private property, junk vehicles must be (1) fully enclosed within a building, or (2) stored behind a solid 6-foot fence that screens them from street view.
A vehicle left in a driveway with flat tires, expired tags over 6 months, or obvious damage can be cited. The abatement process: Code Enforcement or Richmond PD Traffic Division issues a Notice of Intent to Abate with a 10-day cure period. Owner may request a hearing. If unresolved, the vehicle is towed at the owner's expense; costs become a lien on the property. On public streets, the Police Department handles 72-hour parking violations; a chalk mark or GPS log proves the vehicle hasn't moved. 40). The Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Service Authority (AVASA) registration surcharge funds local enforcement statewide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work on my car in my driveway?
How do I report an abandoned vehicle in Richmond?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Richmond
California rules heatmap·Compare Richmond to another location·View the California property maintenance overview
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