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Neighborhood Code

Vehicle Abatement

Neighborhood Code

Vehicle Abatement

Report abandoned vehicles

To report an abandoned vehicle on a public street in your area, please call 3-1-1 or (916) 264-5011. You can also use 311 online to report it.

Vehicle abatement

The Vehicle Abatement Program is designed to abate vehicles that are a public nuisance. Nuisance vehicles include abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, inoperative, unregistered (in excess of 6 months), and/or unmoved for more than 72 hours. Abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, and inoperative vehicles can create conditions that promote blight, attract crime, create hazardous conditions to the public, and reduce the value of real property.

What to expect once a complaint is filed with the City of Sacramento regarding an abandoned vehicle?

1. The complaint is assigned a code enforcement case number;

2. The complaint is investigated by a code enforcement officer;

3. The vehicle is tagged with a notice (Vehicle Violation Notice and Intent to Abate) advising the registered vehicle owner of the California Vehicle Code requirements if found in violation (refer to VEHICLE CODE VIOLATIONS for additional information). The registered vehicle owner is provided 72 hours to move the vehicle before it is towed.

Please note: Vehicles parked on the street and found in a hazardous condition or with expired registration (in excess of 6 months) will be towed immediately without notice to the registered vehicle owner.

4. Upon re-inspection, if the vehicle has been removed from the area or it is driven the case will be closed. However, if the vehicle is unmoved it will be towed.

What if your vehicle is towed by Code Enforcement?

The registered owner of a towed vehicle may request an administrative review within 10 days of the date appearing on the "Notice of Stored Vehicle," which is mailed to the registered owner and legal owner of record, or their agents. The post-storage review will be conducted within 48 business hours of the request, if all information is provided, excluding weekends and holidays. Administrative reviews are conducted by a Code Enforcement supervisor.

You must provide the following when requesting an administrative review:

Your name;
Contact number;
License plate of the vehicle towed and;
Code enforcement case number

To request an administrative review/tow hearing:

You may request an review by calling (916) 808-5473 or by email.

The ability to establish this ordinance is authorized by section 22660 of the California Vehicle Code (CVC).

Vehicle Code Violations, in relevant part:

22669 (a)
“…any other employee of the state, county, or city designated by an agency or department of the state or the board of supervisors or city council to perform this function, in the territorial limits in which the officer or employee is authorized to act, who has reasonable grounds to believe that the vehicle has been abandoned, as determined pursuant to Section 22523, may remove the vehicle from a highway or from public or private property.”

22669 (d)
“… parked, resting, or otherwise immobilized on any highway of public right-of way and which lack an engine, transmission, wheels, tires, doors, windshield, or any other part or equipment necessary to operate safely on the highways of this state, are hereby declared a hazard to public health… and may be removed immediately…”

22651 (o)
“… vehicle is found or operated upon a highway…. With a registration expiration date in excess of six months before the date it is found…”

22651 (k)
“…vehicle is parked or left standing upon a highway for 72 or more consecutive hours…”

Definitions:
“Highway” is a way or place of whatever nature, publicly maintained and open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. Highway includes street.

How to retrieve a vehicle abatement by code enforcement

Please review some frequently asked questions in regards to vehicle abatement and retrieval:

FAQ – Vehicle Abatement / Retrieval of Vehicles Removed by City of Sacramento

Seeking applicants for tow rotation program

The Tow Rotation Program allows members of the towing industry to participate in a rotational tow list to equitably distribute service calls. Licensed tow truck companies who would like to be on the Community Development Department’s tow rotation list must register as a supplier and submit a completed application.

Completed applications shall be delivered by mail, email or in person to: City of Sacramento Community Development Dept.

c/o Julia Mason
300 Richards Blvd, 3rd floor
Sacramento, CA, 95811
Email or call (916) 808-2633

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