Updated 06/09
Junk Vehicles
The presence of an excessive number of junk vehicles can threaten the character and safety of neighborhoods. They may cause deterioration of neighborhoods partly due to visual blight which affects property values. Junked vehicles can create attractive nuisances for children, and provide harborages for rodents, insects and other pests. Most municipalities have approached this problem through the adoption of junk vehicle nuisance ordinances which prohibit the storage of junk vehicles in open areas of private property.
Statutes and Regulations
- Chapter 46.55 RCW Towing and Impoundment
- Chapter 308-61 WAC Unauthorized and Abandoned Vehicles
- Discussion of Authority to Abate and Remove Vehicles
Ordinance Provisions
- Algona Municipal Code Ch. 10.48 - Junk Vehicles
- Bothell Municipal Code Ch. 8.22 - Unauthorized Vehicles and Junk Vehicles
- Brewster Municipal Code Ch. 10.16 - Junk Vehicles
- Clark County Code, Section 9.24.010 (2)(d) - Nuisances Enumerated
- Cowlitz County "Hulk Permit" Junk Vehicle Verification, Notification and Affidavit
- Everett Municipal Code Ch. 8.22 - Junk and Inoperable Motor Vehicle Abatement
- Friday Harbor Ordinance No. 1168 - Prohibiting Junk Vehicles on Private Property (6-01)
- King County Code Ch. 23.10 (
95 KB)- Abandoned, Wrecked, Dismantled or Inoperative Vehicles
- Mountlake Terrace Ordinance Municipal Code Section 8.15.050 - Recreational, utility and motor vehicles
- Mukilteo Municipal Code Ch. 9.47 - Outdoor Storage of Junk and NuisanceVehicles
- Pierce County Code Ch. 8.10 ( 508 KB) - Public Nuisance Vehicles –Prohibited Activities–Penalties–Removal (Ordinance No. 2003-32S2), passed 6/03)
- San Juan County Code Ch. 10.20
- Spokane Code Enforcement Junk Vehicles - Abandoned Vehicles
- Sumner Municipal Code Section 18.16.030 (26) - Public Nuisances Declared - Re unscreened areas
- Tacoma Municipal Code Chapter 8.23 ( 1 MB) - Junk Vehicles
- Thurston County Junk Vehicle Web Site
- Union Gap Municipal Code Ch. 9.28 - Abandoned and Junk Vehicles
- Wilbur Municipal Code Ch. 8.16 - Junk Vehicle Abatement - Prohibiting the Storage of Junk Vehicles on Public or Private Property