{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-904.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-904.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-904.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-904.html"}],"law_id":64391,"edition_id":1,"section_id":64391,"structure_id":13288,"section_number":"15.2-904","catch_line":"Authority to restrict keeping of inoperable motor vehicles, etc., on residential or commercial property; removal of such vehicles; penalty","history":"1966, c. 390, \u00a7 15.1-11.1; 1970, c. 196; 1972, c. 572; 1973, c. 395; 1982, c. 368; 1985, c. 289; 1986, c. 245; 1989, c. 404; 1997, c. 587; 2003, c. 829; 2004, cc. 513, 934; 2005, cc. 465, 775.","full_text":"A\n\nAny locality may, by ordinance, provide that it shall be unlawful for any person to keep, except within a fully enclosed building or structure or otherwise shielded or screened from view, on any property zoned for residential or commercial or agricultural purposes any motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer, as such are defined in § 46.2-100, which is inoperable. Any locality in addition may, by ordinance, limit the number of inoperable motor vehicles which any person may keep outside of a fully enclosed building or structure, but which are shielded or screened from view by covers. As used in this section, an “inoperable motor vehicle” may, at the election of the locality, mean any one or more of the following: (i) any motor vehicle which is not in operating condition; (ii) any motor vehicle which for a period of 60 days or longer has been partially or totally disassembled by the removal of tires and wheels, the engine, or other essential parts required for operation of the vehicle; or (iii) any motor vehicle on which there are displayed neither valid license plates nor a valid inspection decal. However, the provisions of this section shall not apply to a licensed business which on June 26, 1970, is regularly engaged in business as an automobile dealer, salvage dealer or scrap processor.B\n\nAny locality may, by ordinance, further provide that: (i) the owners of property zoned for residential, commercial or agricultural purposes shall, at such time or times as the locality prescribes, remove therefrom any such inoperable motor vehicles, trailers or semitrailers that are not kept within a fully enclosed building or structure; (ii) such locality through its own agents or employees may remove any such inoperable motor vehicles, trailers or semitrailers, whenever the owner of the premises, after reasonable notice, has failed to do so; (iii) in the event such locality, through its own agents or employees, removes any such motor vehicles, trailers or semitrailers, after having given such reasonable notice, such locality may dispose of such motor vehicles, trailers or semitrailers after giving additional notice to the owner of the vehicle; (iv) the cost of any such removal and disposal shall be chargeable to the owner of the vehicle or premises and may be collected by the locality as taxes are collected; and (v) every cost authorized by this section with which the owner of the premises has been assessed shall constitute a lien against the property from which the vehicle was removed, the lien to continue until actual payment of such costs has been made to the locality. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this subsection, if the owner of such vehicle can demonstrate that he is actively restoring or repairing the vehicle, and if it is shielded or screened from view, the vehicle and one additional inoperative motor vehicle that is shielded or screened from view and being used for the restoration or repair may remain on the property.C\n\nThe governing body of any locality may by ordinance provide that violations of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty, which may be imposed in accordance with the provisions of § 15.2-2209.D\n\nExcept as provided in this subsection, adoption of an ordinance pursuant to subsection C shall be in lieu of criminal penalties and shall preclude prosecution of such violation as a misdemeanor. The governing body of any locality may, however, by ordinance provide that such violations shall be a Class 3 misdemeanor in the event three civil penalties have previously been imposed on the same defendant for the same or similar violation, not arising from the same set of operative facts, within a 24-month period. Classifying such subsequent violations as criminal offenses shall preclude the imposition of civil penalties for the same violation.E\n\nAs used in this section, notwithstanding any other provision of law, general or special, “shielded or screened from view” means not visible by someone standing at ground level from outside of the property on which the subject vehicle is located.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":234346,"text":"Any locality may, by ordinance, provide that it shall be unlawful for any person to keep, except within a fully enclosed building or structure or otherwise shielded or screened from view, on any property zoned for residential or commercial or agricultural purposes any motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer, as such are defined in § 46.2-100, which is inoperable. Any locality in addition may, by ordinance, limit the number of inoperable motor vehicles which any person may keep outside of a fully enclosed building or structure, but which are shielded or screened from view by covers. As used in this section, an “inoperable motor vehicle” may, at the election of the locality, mean any one or more of the following: (i) any motor vehicle which is not in operating condition; (ii) any motor vehicle which for a period of 60 days or longer has been partially or totally disassembled by the removal of tires and wheels, the engine, or other essential parts required for operation of the vehicle; or (iii) any motor vehicle on which there are displayed neither valid license plates nor a valid inspection decal. However, the provisions of this section shall not apply to a licensed business which on June 26, 1970, is regularly engaged in business as an automobile dealer, salvage dealer or scrap processor.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":234347,"text":"Any locality may, by ordinance, further provide that: (i) the owners of property zoned for residential, commercial or agricultural purposes shall, at such time or times as the locality prescribes, remove therefrom any such inoperable motor vehicles, trailers or semitrailers that are not kept within a fully enclosed building or structure; (ii) such locality through its own agents or employees may remove any such inoperable motor vehicles, trailers or semitrailers, whenever the owner of the premises, after reasonable notice, has failed to do so; (iii) in the event such locality, through its own agents or employees, removes any such motor vehicles, trailers or semitrailers, after having given such reasonable notice, such locality may dispose of such motor vehicles, trailers or semitrailers after giving additional notice to the owner of the vehicle; (iv) the cost of any such removal and disposal shall be chargeable to the owner of the vehicle or premises and may be collected by the locality as taxes are collected; and (v) every cost authorized by this section with which the owner of the premises has been assessed shall constitute a lien against the property from which the vehicle was removed, the lien to continue until actual payment of such costs has been made to the locality. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this subsection, if the owner of such vehicle can demonstrate that he is actively restoring or repairing the vehicle, and if it is shielded or screened from view, the vehicle and one additional inoperative motor vehicle that is shielded or screened from view and being used for the restoration or repair may remain on the property.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":234348,"text":"The governing body of any locality may by ordinance provide that violations of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty, which may be imposed in accordance with the provisions of § 15.2-2209.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":234349,"text":"Except as provided in this subsection, adoption of an ordinance pursuant to subsection C shall be in lieu of criminal penalties and shall preclude prosecution of such violation as a misdemeanor. The governing body of any locality may, however, by ordinance provide that such violations shall be a Class 3 misdemeanor in the event three civil penalties have previously been imposed on the same defendant for the same or similar violation, not arising from the same set of operative facts, within a 24-month period. Classifying such subsequent violations as criminal offenses shall preclude the imposition of civil penalties for the same violation.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":234350,"text":"As used in this section, notwithstanding any other provision of law, general or special, “shielded or screened from view” means not visible by someone standing at ground level from outside of the property on which the subject vehicle is located.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13288,"edition_id":1,"name":"Public Health and Safety; Nuisances","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13058,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:34","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:34","permalink":{"id":156359,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13288,"identifier":"1","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1","url":"\/15.2\/II\/9\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13058,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Powers of Local Governments","identifier":"9","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12733,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:11","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:11","permalink":{"id":156357,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13058,"identifier":"9","token":"15.2\/II\/9","url":"\/15.2\/II\/9\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12733,"edition_id":1,"name":"Powers of Local Government","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12720,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":152369,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12733,"identifier":"II","token":"15.2\/II","url":"\/15.2\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12720,"edition_id":1,"name":"Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"15.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":151279,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12720,"identifier":"15.2","token":"15.2","url":"\/15.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":81812,"structure_id":13288,"section_number":"15.2-900","catch_line":"Abatement or removal of nuisances by localities; recovery of costs","url":"\/15.2-900\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1\/15.2-900","metadata":false},{"id":69383,"structure_id":13288,"section_number":"15.2-901","catch_line":"Locality may provide for removal or disposal of trash and clutter, cutting of grass, weeds, and running bamboo; penalty in certain counties; penalty","url":"\/15.2-901\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1\/15.2-901","metadata":false},{"id":84118,"structure_id":13288,"section_number":"15.2-901.1","catch_line":"Locality may provide for control of running bamboo; civil penalty","url":"\/15.2-901.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1\/15.2-901.1","metadata":false},{"id":83896,"structure_id":13288,"section_number":"15.2-902","catch_line":"Authority of locality to control certain noxious weeds","url":"\/15.2-902\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1\/15.2-902","metadata":false},{"id":72183,"structure_id":13288,"section_number":"15.2-903","catch_line":"Ordinances taxing and regulating \"automobile graveyards,\" \"junkyards,\" and certain vacant and abandoned property","url":"\/15.2-903\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1\/15.2-903","metadata":false},{"id":64391,"structure_id":13288,"section_number":"15.2-904","catch_line":"Authority to restrict keeping of inoperable motor vehicles, etc., on residential or commercial property; removal of such vehicles; penalty","url":"\/15.2-904\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1\/15.2-904","metadata":false},{"id":61931,"structure_id":13288,"section_number":"15.2-905","catch_line":"Authority to restrict keeping of inoperable motor vehicles, etc., on residential or commercial property; removal of such vehicles","url":"\/15.2-905\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1\/15.2-905","metadata":false},{"id":73739,"structure_id":13288,"section_number":"15.2-906","catch_line":"Authority to require removal, repair, etc., of buildings and other structures","url":"\/15.2-906\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1\/15.2-906","metadata":false},{"id":60153,"structure_id":13288,"section_number":"15.2-906.1","catch_line":"Expired","url":"\/15.2-906.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1\/15.2-906.1","metadata":false},{"id":85083,"structure_id":13288,"section_number":"15.2-907","catch_line":"Authority to require removal, repair, etc., of buildings and other structures harboring illegal drug use or other criminal activity","url":"\/15.2-907\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1\/15.2-907","metadata":false},{"id":62717,"structure_id":13288,"section_number":"15.2-907.1","catch_line":"Authority to require removal, repair, etc., of buildings that are declared to be derelict; 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This law was first created in 1966. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 390 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1966 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 11 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1970, chapter 196; in 1972, chapter 572; in 1973, chapter 395; in 1982, chapter 368; in 1985, chapter 289; in 1986, chapter 245; in 1989, chapter 404; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>; in 2003, chapter 829<\/a>; in 2004, chapters 513<\/a> and 934<\/a>; in 2005, chapters 465<\/a> and 775<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":62143,"section_number":"15.2-1132","catch_line":"Volunteer property maintenance and zoning inspectors in certain cities","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1132\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":82691,"section_number":"46.2-100","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-100\/"}],"permalink":{"id":156381,"object_type":"law","relational_id":64391,"identifier":"15.2-904","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1\/15.2-904","url":"\/15.2-904\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-904\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/1\/15.2-904","dublin_core":{"Title":"Authority to restrict keeping of inoperable motor vehicles, etc., on residential or commercial property; removal of such vehicles; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-904","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any locality<\/span> may, by ordinance<\/span>, provide that it shall be unlawful for any person to keep, except within a fully enclosed building or structure or otherwise shielded or screened from view<\/span>, on any property zoned for residential or commercial or agricultural purposes any motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer, as such are defined in § 46.2-100<\/a>, which is inoperable. Any locality<\/span> in addition may, by ordinance<\/span>, limit the number of inoperable motor vehicles<\/span> which any person may keep outside of a fully enclosed building or structure, but which are shielded or screened from view<\/span> by covers. As used in this section, an “inoperable motor vehicle<\/span>” may, at the election of the locality<\/span>, mean any one or more of the following: (i) any motor vehicle which is not in operating condition; (ii) any motor vehicle which for a period of 60 days or longer has been partially or totally disassembled by the removal of tires and wheels, the engine, or other essential parts required for operation of the vehicle; or (iii) any motor vehicle on which there are displayed neither valid license plates nor a valid inspection decal. However, the provisions of this section shall not apply to a licensed business which on June 26, 1970, is regularly engaged in business as an automobile dealer, salvage dealer or scrap processor. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Any locality<\/span> may, by ordinance<\/span>, further provide that: (i) the owners of property zoned for residential, commercial or agricultural purposes shall, at such time or times as the locality<\/span> prescribes, remove therefrom any such inoperable motor vehicles<\/span>, trailers or semitrailers that are not kept within a fully enclosed building or structure; (ii) such locality<\/span> through its own agents or employees may remove any such inoperable motor vehicles<\/span>, trailers or semitrailers, whenever the owner of the premises, after reasonable notice, has failed to do so; (iii) in the event such locality<\/span>, through its own agents or employees, removes any such motor vehicles, trailers or semitrailers, after having given such reasonable notice, such locality<\/span> may dispose of such motor vehicles, trailers or semitrailers after giving additional notice to the owner of the vehicle; (iv) the cost of any such removal and disposal shall be chargeable to the owner of the vehicle or premises and may be collected by the locality<\/span> as taxes are collected; and (v) every cost authorized by this section with which the owner of the premises has been assessed shall constitute a lien<\/span> against the property from which the vehicle was removed, the lien<\/span> to continue until actual payment of such costs has been made to the locality<\/span>. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this subsection, if the owner of such vehicle can demonstrate that he is actively restoring or repairing the vehicle, and if it is shielded or screened from view<\/span>, the vehicle and one additional inoperative motor vehicle that is shielded or screened from view<\/span> and being used for the restoration or repair may remain on the property. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The governing body<\/span> of any locality<\/span> may by ordinance<\/span> provide that violations of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty<\/span>, which may be imposed in accordance with the provisions of § 15.2-2209<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Except as provided in this subsection, adoption of an ordinance<\/span> pursuant to subsection C shall be in lieu of criminal penalties and shall preclude prosecution<\/span> of such violation as a misdemeanor<\/span>. The governing body<\/span> of any locality<\/span> may, however, by ordinance<\/span> provide that such violations shall be a Class 3 misdemeanor<\/span> in the event three civil penalties have previously been imposed on the same defendant<\/span> for the same or similar violation, not arising from the same set of operative facts<\/span>, within a 24-month period. Classifying such subsequent violations as criminal offenses<\/span> shall preclude the imposition of civil penalties for the same violation. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> As used in this section, notwithstanding any other provision of law<\/span>, general or special, “shielded or screened from view<\/span>” means not visible by someone standing at ground level from outside of the property on which the subject vehicle is located. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nAUTHORITY TO RESTRICT KEEPING OF INOPERABLE MOTOR VEHICLES, ETC., ON RESIDENTIAL\nOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY; REMOVAL OF SUCH VEHICLES; PENALTY (\u00a7 15.2-904)\n\nA. Any locality may, by ordinance, provide that it shall be unlawful for any\nperson to keep, except within a fully enclosed building or structure or\notherwise shielded or screened from view, on any property zoned for residential\nor commercial or agricultural purposes any motor vehicle, trailer or\nsemitrailer, as such are defined in § 46.2-100, which is inoperable. Any\nlocality in addition may, by ordinance, limit the number of inoperable motor\nvehicles which any person may keep outside of a fully enclosed building or\nstructure, but which are shielded or screened from view by covers. As used in\nthis section, an “inoperable motor vehicle” may, at the election of\nthe locality, mean any one or more of the following: (i) any motor vehicle which\nis not in operating condition; (ii) any motor vehicle which for a period of 60\ndays or longer has been partially or totally disassembled by the removal of\ntires and wheels, the engine, or other essential parts required for operation of\nthe vehicle; or (iii) any motor vehicle on which there are displayed neither\nvalid license plates nor a valid inspection decal. However, the provisions of\nthis section shall not apply to a licensed business which on June 26, 1970, is\nregularly engaged in business as an automobile dealer, salvage dealer or scrap\nprocessor.\n\nB. Any locality may, by ordinance, further provide that: (i) the owners of\nproperty zoned for residential, commercial or agricultural purposes shall, at\nsuch time or times as the locality prescribes, remove therefrom any such\ninoperable motor vehicles, trailers or semitrailers that are not kept within a\nfully enclosed building or structure; (ii) such locality through its own agents\nor employees may remove any such inoperable motor vehicles, trailers or\nsemitrailers, whenever the owner of the premises, after reasonable notice, has\nfailed to do so; (iii) in the event such locality, through its own agents or\nemployees, removes any such motor vehicles, trailers or semitrailers, after\nhaving given such reasonable notice, such locality may dispose of such motor\nvehicles, trailers or semitrailers after giving additional notice to the owner\nof the vehicle; (iv) the cost of any such removal and disposal shall be\nchargeable to the owner of the vehicle or premises and may be collected by the\nlocality as taxes are collected; and (v) every cost authorized by this section\nwith which the owner of the premises has been assessed shall constitute a lien\nagainst the property from which the vehicle was removed, the lien to continue\nuntil actual payment of such costs has been made to the locality.\nNotwithstanding the other provisions of this subsection, if the owner of such\nvehicle can demonstrate that he is actively restoring or repairing the vehicle,\nand if it is shielded or screened from view, the vehicle and one additional\ninoperative motor vehicle that is shielded or screened from view and being used\nfor the restoration or repair may remain on the property.\n\nC. The governing body of any locality may by ordinance provide that violations\nof this section shall be subject to a civil penalty, which may be imposed in\naccordance with the provisions of § 15.2-2209.\n\nD. Except as provided in this subsection, adoption of an ordinance pursuant to\nsubsection C shall be in lieu of criminal penalties and shall preclude\nprosecution of such violation as a misdemeanor. The governing body of any\nlocality may, however, by ordinance provide that such violations shall be a\nClass 3 misdemeanor in the event three civil penalties have previously been\nimposed on the same defendant for the same or similar violation, not arising\nfrom the same set of operative facts, within a 24-month period. Classifying such\nsubsequent violations as criminal offenses shall preclude the imposition of\ncivil penalties for the same violation.\n\nE. As used in this section, notwithstanding any other provision of law, general\nor special, “shielded or screened from view” means not visible by\nsomeone standing at ground level from outside of the property on which the\nsubject vehicle is located.\n\nHISTORY: 1966, c. 390, \u00a7 15.1-11.1; 1970, c. 196; 1972, c. 572; 1973, c. 395;\n1982, c. 368; 1985, c. 289; 1986, c. 245; 1989, c. 404; 1997, c. 587; 2003, c.\n829; 2004, cc. 513, 934; 2005, cc. 465, 775.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}