{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/46.2-1213.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/46.2-1213.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/46.2-1213.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/46.2-1213.html"}],"law_id":75425,"edition_id":1,"section_id":75425,"structure_id":15956,"section_number":"46.2-1213","catch_line":"Removal and disposition of unattended or immobile vehicles; ordinances in counties, cities, and towns","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 46-5.1; 1956, c. 114; 1958, c. 541, \u00a7 46.1-3; 1960, cc. 75, 204; 1966, c. 297; 1972, c. 267; 1974, c. 142; 1980, c. 551; 1984, cc. 190, 381; 1985, c. 91; 1989, c. 727; 2012, c. 474; 2023, c. 355.","full_text":"A\n\nThe governing body of any county, city, or town may by ordinance provide for the removal for safekeeping of motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, or parts thereof to a storage area if:1\n\nIt is left unattended on a public highway or other public property and constitutes a traffic hazard;2\n\nIt is illegally parked;3\n\nIt is left unattended for more than 10 days either on public property or on private property without the permission of the property owner, lessee, or occupant; or4\n\nIt is immobilized on a public roadway by weather conditions or other emergency situation.B\n\nRemoval shall be carried out by or under the direction of a law-enforcement officer or other uniformed employee of the local law-enforcement agency who specifically is authorized to do so by the chief law-enforcement officer or his designee, or by or under the direction of the locality’s civil code enforcement division. The ordinance, however, shall not authorize removal of motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, and parts thereof from private property without the written request of the owner, lessee, or occupant of the premises. The ordinance may also provide that the person at whose request the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer is removed from private property shall indemnify the county, city, or town against any loss or expense incurred by reason of removal, storage, or sale thereof. Any such ordinance may also provide that it shall be presumed that such motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part thereof is abandoned if it (i) lacks either a current license plate; or a current county, city or town license plate or sticker; or a valid state safety inspection certificate or sticker; and (ii) it has been in a specific location for four days without being moved. As promptly as possible, each removal shall be reported to a local governmental office to be designated in the ordinance and to the owner of the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer. Before obtaining possession of the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part thereof, the owner shall pay to the parties entitled thereto all costs incidental to its removal and storage and locating the owner. If the owner fails or refuses to pay the cost or if his identity or whereabouts is unknown and unascertainable after a diligent search has been made, and after notice to him at his last known address and to the holder of any lien of record with the office of the Department against the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer, the vehicle shall be treated as an abandoned vehicle under the provisions of Article 1 (§ 46.2-1200 et seq.).","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":270747,"text":"The governing body of any county, city, or town may by ordinance provide for the removal for safekeeping of motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, or parts thereof to a storage area if:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":270748,"text":"It is left unattended on a public highway or other public property and constitutes a traffic hazard;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":270749,"text":"It is illegally parked;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":270750,"text":"It is left unattended for more than 10 days either on public property or on private property without the permission of the property owner, lessee, or occupant; or","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"A4"},"4":{"id":270751,"text":"It is immobilized on a public roadway by weather conditions or other emergency situation.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"A4","prefix_anchor":"A4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"B"},"5":{"id":270752,"text":"Removal shall be carried out by or under the direction of a law-enforcement officer or other uniformed employee of the local law-enforcement agency who specifically is authorized to do so by the chief law-enforcement officer or his designee, or by or under the direction of the locality’s civil code enforcement division. The ordinance, however, shall not authorize removal of motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, and parts thereof from private property without the written request of the owner, lessee, or occupant of the premises. The ordinance may also provide that the person at whose request the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer is removed from private property shall indemnify the county, city, or town against any loss or expense incurred by reason of removal, storage, or sale thereof. Any such ordinance may also provide that it shall be presumed that such motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part thereof is abandoned if it (i) lacks either a current license plate; or a current county, city or town license plate or sticker; or a valid state safety inspection certificate or sticker; and (ii) it has been in a specific location for four days without being moved. As promptly as possible, each removal shall be reported to a local governmental office to be designated in the ordinance and to the owner of the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer. Before obtaining possession of the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part thereof, the owner shall pay to the parties entitled thereto all costs incidental to its removal and storage and locating the owner. If the owner fails or refuses to pay the cost or if his identity or whereabouts is unknown and unascertainable after a diligent search has been made, and after notice to him at his last known address and to the holder of any lien of record with the office of the Department against the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer, the vehicle shall be treated as an abandoned vehicle under the provisions of Article 1 (§ 46.2-1200 et seq.).","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A4"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15956,"edition_id":1,"name":"Immobilized and Unattended Vehicles","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13248,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:02:39","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:02:39","permalink":{"id":229767,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15956,"identifier":"2","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/2","url":"\/46.2\/III\/12\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13248,"edition_id":1,"name":"Abandoned, Immobilized, Unattended and Trespassing Vehicles; Parking","identifier":"12","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12827,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:31","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:31","permalink":{"id":229707,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13248,"identifier":"12","token":"46.2\/III\/12","url":"\/46.2\/III\/12\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12827,"edition_id":1,"name":"Operation","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12770,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":228597,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12827,"identifier":"III","token":"46.2\/III","url":"\/46.2\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12770,"edition_id":1,"name":"Motor Vehicles","identifier":"46.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","permalink":{"id":225289,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12770,"identifier":"46.2","token":"46.2","url":"\/46.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":74116,"structure_id":15956,"section_number":"46.2-1209","catch_line":"Unattended or immobile vehicles, generally","url":"\/46.2-1209\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/2\/46.2-1209","metadata":false},{"id":74430,"structure_id":15956,"section_number":"46.2-1210","catch_line":"Motor vehicles immobilized by weather conditions, accidents, or emergencies","url":"\/46.2-1210\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/2\/46.2-1210","metadata":false},{"id":85250,"structure_id":15956,"section_number":"46.2-1211","catch_line":"Removal of motor vehicles obstructing movement; storage; payment of costs","url":"\/46.2-1211\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/2\/46.2-1211","metadata":false},{"id":69651,"structure_id":15956,"section_number":"46.2-1212","catch_line":"Authority to provide for temporary removal and disposition of vehicles involved in accidents","url":"\/46.2-1212\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/2\/46.2-1212","metadata":false},{"id":62123,"structure_id":15956,"section_number":"46.2-1212.1","catch_line":"Authority to provide for removal and disposition of vehicles and cargoes of vehicles involved in accidents","url":"\/46.2-1212.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/2\/46.2-1212.1","metadata":false},{"id":75425,"structure_id":15956,"section_number":"46.2-1213","catch_line":"Removal and disposition of unattended or immobile vehicles; ordinances in counties, cities, and towns","url":"\/46.2-1213\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/2\/46.2-1213","metadata":false},{"id":66076,"structure_id":15956,"section_number":"46.2-1214","catch_line":"Sale of personal property found in unattended or abandoned vehicles","url":"\/46.2-1214\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/2\/46.2-1214","metadata":false},{"id":79942,"structure_id":15956,"section_number":"46.2-1215","catch_line":"Leaving vehicles on private property prohibited; authority of counties, cities, and towns to provide for removal and disposition; notice of disposition","url":"\/46.2-1215\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/2\/46.2-1215","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":62123,"structure_id":15956,"section_number":"46.2-1212.1","catch_line":"Authority to provide for removal and disposition of vehicles and cargoes of vehicles involved in accidents","url":"\/46.2-1212.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/2\/46.2-1212.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":66076,"structure_id":15956,"section_number":"46.2-1214","catch_line":"Sale of personal property found in unattended or abandoned vehicles","url":"\/46.2-1214\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/2\/46.2-1214","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/46.2-1213\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 12 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 1956, chapter 114; in 1958, chapter 541; in 1960, chapters 75 and 204; in 1966, chapter 297; in 1972, chapter 267; in 1974, chapter 142; in 1980, chapter 551; in 1984, chapters 190 and 381; in 1985, chapter 91; in 1989, chapter 727; in 2012, chapter 474<\/a>; in 2023, chapter 355<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":79942,"section_number":"46.2-1215","catch_line":"Leaving vehicles on private property prohibited; authority of counties, cities, and towns to provide for removal and disposition; notice of disposition","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1215\/"},{"id":57036,"section_number":"46.2-1216","catch_line":"Removal or immobilization of motor vehicles, vehicles, and trailers against which there are outstanding parking violations; ordinances","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1216\/"},{"id":71754,"section_number":"46.2-644.01","catch_line":"Lien of keeper of vehicles","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-644.01\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":61628,"section_number":"46.2-1200","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1200\/"}],"permalink":{"id":229789,"object_type":"law","relational_id":75425,"identifier":"46.2-1213","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/2\/46.2-1213","url":"\/46.2-1213\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/46.2-1213\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/2\/46.2-1213","dublin_core":{"Title":"Removal and disposition of unattended or immobile vehicles; ordinances in counties, cities, and towns","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 46.2-1213","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The governing body<\/span> of any county, city, or town may by ordinance<\/span> provide for the removal for safekeeping of motor vehicles<\/span>, trailers<\/span>, semitrailers<\/span>, or parts thereof to a storage area if: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> It is left unattended on a public highway<\/span> or other public property and constitutes a traffic hazard; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> It is illegally parked; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> It is left unattended for more than 10 days either on public property or on private property without the permission of the property owner<\/span>, lessee, or occupant; or <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> It is immobilized on a public roadway<\/span> by weather conditions or other emergency situation. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Removal shall be carried out by or under the direction of a law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span> or other uniformed employee of the local law<\/span>-enforcement agency who specifically is authorized to do so by the chief law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span> or his designee, or by or under the direction of the locality’s civil code enforcement division. The ordinance<\/span>, however, shall not authorize removal of motor vehicles<\/span>, trailers<\/span>, semitrailers<\/span>, and parts thereof from private property without the written request of the owner<\/span>, lessee, or occupant of the premises. The ordinance<\/span> may also provide that the person at whose request the motor vehicle<\/span>, trailer<\/span>, semitrailer<\/span>, or part of a motor vehicle<\/span>, trailer<\/span>, or semitrailer<\/span> is removed from private property shall indemnify the county, city, or town against any loss or expense incurred by reason of removal, storage, or sale thereof. Any such ordinance<\/span> may also provide that it shall be presumed that such motor vehicle<\/span>, trailer<\/span>, semitrailer<\/span>, or part thereof is abandoned if it (i) lacks either a current license plate<\/span>; or a current county, city or town license plate<\/span> or sticker; or a valid state safety inspection certificate or sticker; and (ii) it has been in a specific location for four days without being moved. As promptly as possible, each removal shall be reported to a local governmental office to be designated in the ordinance<\/span> and to the owner<\/span> of the motor vehicle<\/span>, trailer<\/span>, or semitrailer<\/span>. Before obtaining possession<\/span> of the motor vehicle<\/span>, trailer<\/span>, semitrailer<\/span>, or part thereof, the owner<\/span> shall pay to the parties entitled thereto all costs incidental to its removal and storage and locating the owner<\/span>. If the owner<\/span> fails or refuses to pay the cost or if his identity or whereabouts is unknown and unascertainable after a diligent search has been made, and after notice to him at his last known address and to the holder of any lien<\/span> of record with the office of the Department<\/span> against the motor vehicle<\/span>, trailer<\/span>, semitrailer<\/span>, or part of a motor vehicle<\/span>, trailer<\/span>, or semitrailer<\/span>, the vehicle shall be treated as an abandoned vehicle under the provisions of Article 1 (§ 46.2-1200<\/a> et seq.). <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nREMOVAL AND DISPOSITION OF UNATTENDED OR IMMOBILE VEHICLES; ORDINANCES IN\nCOUNTIES, CITIES, AND TOWNS (\u00a7 46.2-1213)\n\nA. The governing body of any county, city, or town may by ordinance provide for\nthe removal for safekeeping of motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, or parts\nthereof to a storage area if:\n\n 1. It is left unattended on a public highway or other public property and\n constitutes a traffic hazard;\n\n 2. It is illegally parked;\n\n 3. It is left unattended for more than 10 days either on public property or on\n private property without the permission of the property owner, lessee, or\n occupant; or\n\n 4. It is immobilized on a public roadway by weather conditions or other\n emergency situation.\n\nB. Removal shall be carried out by or under the direction of a law-enforcement\nofficer or other uniformed employee of the local law-enforcement agency who\nspecifically is authorized to do so by the chief law-enforcement officer or his\ndesignee, or by or under the direction of the locality’s civil code\nenforcement division. The ordinance, however, shall not authorize removal of\nmotor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, and parts thereof from private property\nwithout the written request of the owner, lessee, or occupant of the premises.\nThe ordinance may also provide that the person at whose request the motor\nvehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part of a motor vehicle, trailer, or\nsemitrailer is removed from private property shall indemnify the county, city,\nor town against any loss or expense incurred by reason of removal, storage, or\nsale thereof. Any such ordinance may also provide that it shall be presumed that\nsuch motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part thereof is abandoned if it (i)\nlacks either a current license plate; or a current county, city or town license\nplate or sticker; or a valid state safety inspection certificate or sticker; and\n(ii) it has been in a specific location for four days without being moved. As\npromptly as possible, each removal shall be reported to a local governmental\noffice to be designated in the ordinance and to the owner of the motor vehicle,\ntrailer, or semitrailer. Before obtaining possession of the motor vehicle,\ntrailer, semitrailer, or part thereof, the owner shall pay to the parties\nentitled thereto all costs incidental to its removal and storage and locating\nthe owner. If the owner fails or refuses to pay the cost or if his identity or\nwhereabouts is unknown and unascertainable after a diligent search has been\nmade, and after notice to him at his last known address and to the holder of any\nlien of record with the office of the Department against the motor vehicle,\ntrailer, semitrailer, or part of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer, the\nvehicle shall be treated as an abandoned vehicle under the provisions of Article\n1 (§ 46.2-1200 et seq.).\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 46-5.1; 1956, c. 114; 1958, c. 541, \u00a7 46.1-3; 1960, cc.\n75, 204; 1966, c. 297; 1972, c. 267; 1974, c. 142; 1980, c. 551; 1984, cc. 190,\n381; 1985, c. 91; 1989, c. 727; 2012, c. 474; 2023, c. 355.","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}}