{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/46.2-1215.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/46.2-1215.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/46.2-1215.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/46.2-1215.html"}],"law_id":79942,"edition_id":1,"section_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","history":"1964, c. 391, \u00a7 46.1-3.2; 1966, c. 615; 1984, c. 158; 1987, cc. 152, 202; 1989, c. 727; 2012, c. 474.","full_text":"No person shall leave any motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer on the private property of any other person without his consent. The governing body of any county, city, or town may by ordinance provide, that on complaint of the owner of the property on which such motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part thereof has been left for more than 72 hours, that such motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part thereof, may be removed 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 to a storage area. The ordinance shall require the owners of private property which is normally open to the public for parking to post or cause to be posted signs warning that vehicles left on the property for more than 72 hours will be towed or removed at their owners’ expense. The ordinance may also provide that the person at whose request the vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part thereof is so removed shall indemnify the county, city, or town against any loss or expense incurred by reason of removal, storage, or sale thereof.\n\t\tIn the case of the removal of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer from private property, when it cannot be readily sold, the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part may be disposed of in whatever manner the governing body of the county, city, or town may provide.\n\t\tIn all other respects, the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 46.2-1213 and 46.2-1217 shall apply to these removals. Disposal of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer may at the option of the governing body of the county, city, or town be carried out under either the provisions of \u00a7 46.2-1213, or under the provisions of this section after a diligent search for the owner, after notice to him at his last known address and to the holder of any lien of record in the office of the Department against the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer, and after the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer has been held at least 60 days.\n\t\tThe Department shall be notified of the disposition of any motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer under \u00a7 46.2-1213 or the provisions of this section.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":286315,"text":"No person shall leave any motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer on the private property of any other person without his consent. The governing body of any county, city, or town may by ordinance provide, that on complaint of the owner of the property on which such motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part thereof has been left for more than 72 hours, that such motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part thereof, may be removed 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 to a storage area. The ordinance shall require the owners of private property which is normally open to the public for parking to post or cause to be posted signs warning that vehicles left on the property for more than 72 hours will be towed or removed at their owners’ expense. The ordinance may also provide that the person at whose request the vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part thereof is so removed shall indemnify the county, city, or town against any loss or expense incurred by reason of removal, storage, or sale thereof.\n\t\tIn the case of the removal of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer from private property, when it cannot be readily sold, the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part may be disposed of in whatever manner the governing body of the county, city, or town may provide.\n\t\tIn all other respects, the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 46.2-1213 and 46.2-1217 shall apply to these removals. Disposal of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer may at the option of the governing body of the county, city, or town be carried out under either the provisions of \u00a7 46.2-1213, or under the provisions of this section after a diligent search for the owner, after notice to him at his last known address and to the holder of any lien of record in the office of the Department against the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer, and after the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer has been held at least 60 days.\n\t\tThe Department shall be notified of the disposition of any motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer under \u00a7 46.2-1213 or the provisions of this section.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"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":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\/46.2-1215\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1964. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 391 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 1964 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 5 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 1966, chapter 615; in 1984, chapter 158; in 1987, chapters 152 and 202; in 1989, chapter 727; in 2012, chapter 474<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":77977,"section_number":"46.2-1233","catch_line":"Localities may regulate towing fees","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1233\/"},{"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":75425,"section_number":"46.2-1213","catch_line":"Removal and disposition of unattended or immobile vehicles; ordinances in counties, cities, and towns","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1213\/"},{"id":60919,"section_number":"46.2-1217","catch_line":"Local governing body may regulate certain towing","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1217\/"}],"permalink":{"id":229797,"object_type":"law","relational_id":79942,"identifier":"46.2-1215","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/2\/46.2-1215","url":"\/46.2-1215\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/46.2-1215\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/2\/46.2-1215","dublin_core":{"Title":"Leaving vehicles on private property prohibited; authority of counties, cities, and towns to provide for removal and disposition; notice of disposition","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 46.2-1215","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

No person shall leave any motor vehicle<\/span>, trailer<\/span>, semitrailer<\/span>, or part of a motor vehicle<\/span>, trailer<\/span>, or semitrailer<\/span> on the private property of any other person without his consent. The governing body<\/span> of any county, city, or town may by ordinance<\/span> provide, that on complaint of the owner<\/span> of the property on which such motor vehicle<\/span>, trailer<\/span>, semitrailer<\/span>, or part thereof has been left for more than 72 hours, that such motor vehicle<\/span>, trailer<\/span>, semitrailer<\/span>, or part thereof, may be removed 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 to a storage area. The ordinance<\/span> shall require the owners<\/span> of private property which is normally open to the public for parking to post or cause to be posted signs warning that vehicles<\/span> left on the property for more than 72 hours will be towed or removed at their owners<\/span>’ expense. The ordinance<\/span> may also provide that the person at whose request the vehicle, trailer<\/span>, semitrailer<\/span>, or part thereof is so removed shall indemnify the county, city, or town against any loss or expense incurred by reason of removal, storage, or sale thereof.\n\t\tIn the case of the removal of a motor vehicle<\/span>, trailer<\/span>, semitrailer<\/span>, or part of a motor vehicle<\/span>, trailer<\/span>, or semitrailer<\/span> from private property, when it cannot be readily sold, the motor vehicle<\/span>, trailer<\/span>, semitrailer<\/span>, or part may be disposed of in whatever manner the governing body<\/span> of the county, city, or town may provide.\n\t\tIn all other respects, the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 46.2-1213<\/a> and 46.2-1217<\/a> shall apply to these removals. Disposal of a motor vehicle<\/span>, trailer<\/span>, or semitrailer<\/span> may at the option of the governing body<\/span> of the county, city, or town be carried out under either the provisions of \u00a7 46.2-1213<\/a>, or under the provisions of this section after a diligent search for the owner<\/span>, after notice to him at his last known address and to the holder of any lien<\/span> of record in the office of the Department<\/span> against the motor vehicle<\/span>, trailer<\/span>, or semitrailer<\/span>, and after the motor vehicle<\/span>, trailer<\/span>, or semitrailer<\/span> has been held at least 60 days.\n\t\tThe Department<\/span> shall be notified of the disposition<\/span> of any motor vehicle<\/span>, trailer<\/span>, or semitrailer<\/span> under \u00a7 46.2-1213<\/a> or the provisions of this section.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nLEAVING VEHICLES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY PROHIBITED; AUTHORITY OF COUNTIES, CITIES,\nAND TOWNS TO PROVIDE FOR REMOVAL AND DISPOSITION; NOTICE OF DISPOSITION (\u00a7\n46.2-1215)\n\nNo person shall leave any motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part of a\nmotor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer on the private property of any other\nperson without his consent. The governing body of any county, city, or town may\nby ordinance provide, that on complaint of the owner of the property on which\nsuch motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part thereof has been left for more\nthan 72 hours, that such motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part thereof,\nmay be removed by or under the direction of a law-enforcement officer or other\nuniformed employee of the local law-enforcement agency who specifically is\nauthorized to do so by the chief law-enforcement officer or his designee to a\nstorage area. The ordinance shall require the owners of private property which\nis normally open to the public for parking to post or cause to be posted signs\nwarning that vehicles left on the property for more than 72 hours will be towed\nor removed at their owners’ expense. The ordinance may also provide that\nthe person at whose request the vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part thereof\nis so removed shall indemnify the county, city, or town against any loss or\nexpense incurred by reason of removal, storage, or sale thereof.\n\t\tIn the case of the removal of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part\nof a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer from private property, when it\ncannot be readily sold, the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part may be\ndisposed of in whatever manner the governing body of the county, city, or town\nmay provide.\n\t\tIn all other respects, the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 46.2-1213 and 46.2-1217 shall\napply to these removals. Disposal of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer\nmay at the option of the governing body of the county, city, or town be carried\nout under either the provisions of \u00a7 46.2-1213, or under the provisions of this\nsection after a diligent search for the owner, after notice to him at his last\nknown address and to the holder of any lien of record in the office of the\nDepartment against the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer, and after the\nmotor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer has been held at least 60 days.\n\t\tThe Department shall be notified of the disposition of any motor vehicle,\ntrailer, or semitrailer under \u00a7 46.2-1213 or the provisions of this section.\n\nHISTORY: 1964, c. 391, \u00a7 46.1-3.2; 1966, c. 615; 1984, c. 158; 1987, cc. 152,\n202; 1989, c. 727; 2012, c. 474.","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}}