Madera County residents can file service requests to remove abandoned or wrecked vehicles.
Chapter 10.34 of the Madera County Code allows officials to remove abandoned, dismantled, inoperative or wrecked vehicles. The County’s code enforcement division, the Madera County Sheriff and California Highway Patrol enforce the code together.
Residents can also file complaints through an online service request with the Madera County Community and Economic Development Department.
The County considers abandoned vehicles “public nuisances” that reduce property value and invite burglary and other crimes. Additionally, the chapter says these vehicles promote blight, a plant disease that spreads rapidly.
An abandoned vehicle is one that sits wrecked, dismantled or inoperative on public or private property for 72 hours or more. For example, an inoperative vehicle is one left on the highway or a property. Similarly, a dismantled vehicle is any vehicle left “partially or completely disassembled.” A wrecked vehicle is one that has enough damage that it cannot operate on a highway.
In general, the vehicle’s condition must suggest the owner intends to give up all rights or interest.
Residents who want to keep these vehicles must store them in completely enclosed structures. A structure counts as “completely enclosed” if it has at least three fixed walls, a roof and a permanent floor.
However, these regulations don’t apply to vehicles stored by licensed dealers or legal wrecking and dismantling businesses.
The County must provide a 10 day notice to remove the vehicle. Then, owners can request a public hearing within 10 days of notice. After removal, the code enforcement division must notify the Department of Motor Vehicles within five days and provide any evidence of registration available.
In addition, owners can also appeal the decision and request a hearing with the County Board of Supervisors within 15 days. If owners did not approve the abandoned vehicle on their property, they will not pay any removal costs.
The County disposes of abandoned vehicles at a dismantling facility or junkyard five days after its removal. The County does not reconstruct removed.vehicles unless they qualify as a “horseless carriage” or a “historical vehicle.”
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