Listed below are the most common and relevant sections of the Nuisance Abatement Ordinances. For additional sections or clarification, please call the Building Department at 334-448-2740.

Article II. Abandoned Vehicles

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

  • Abandoned vehicle: Abandon vehicle means any vehicle which has been left on public property or on a street or highway for 24 hours or more.
  • Fencing: Fencing means a commercial, or commercial facsimile, privacy type fence and entrance gate such as of chain link with interwoven slats (also known as panelweave), brick, wood, or a living fence comprised of plant material, erected so as to provide complete screening of the view to the passing public.
  • Junked Vehicles: Junked vehicle means any vehicle missing some critical part, such as, but not limited to, wheels, engine, transmission, body, or chassis. A vehicle will be classified junked if overgrown with vegetation.
  • Property: Property means any real property within the city, or the police jurisdiction thereof, which is not a street or highway.
  • Public Property: Public property means any real property owned or controlled by a government within the city. Thereof which is not a street or highway.
  • Repair Shops: Repair shops shall consist of those activities which are commonly known as service stations, garage repair, and vehicle paint shops which deal with the repair of all vehicle types. Marine repair, motorcycle repair, ATV repair, and recreational vehicle repair shall also be classed a repair shop.
  • Street or Highway: Street or highway means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof, is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.
  • Vehicle: Vehicle means any machine propelled by power, other than human power, designed to travel along the ground by use of wheels, treads, runners, or slides, and to transport persons or property or pull machinery and shall include, without limitation, automobile, truck, trailer, motorcycle, tractor, buggy and wagon.
  • Vehicle Storage Yards: Vehicle storage yards means any lot or place which is exposed to the weather upon which four or more inoperable motorized vehicles of any kind are placed, or where six or more operable vehicles are stored. This excludes appropriately licensed car lots and off-street parking lots for businesses as outlined in the city zoning ordinance.
  • Vehicle Wrecking or Junk Yard: Vehicle wrecking or junk yard means that part of a lot not enclosed by a building, which is used for the storage or dismantling of damaged or obsolete vehicles or for the sale of such vehicles or of the salvaged parts therefrom, but not including the storage of used vehicles in operable condition.

Section 78-41 Abandonment of Vehicles Prohibited

No person shall abandon any vehicle or watercraft within the city limits or its police jurisdiction. No person shall leave any vehicle or watercraft at any place within the city or its police jurisdiction for such time and under such circumstances as to cause such vehicle or watercraft to reasonably appear to have been abandon.

Section 78-42 Disposition of Wrecked or Discarded Vehicles

(a) No person in charge or control of any real property zoned commercial or industrial in the city limits or any place within the police jurisdiction thereof, whether as tenant, owner, occupant, lessee, or otherwise shall allow any vehicle which is partially dismantled, nonoperating, wrecked, junked, or discarded to remain on such property longer than ten days after notice has been served upon him by the chief of police or the building official or their duly authorized representative, notifying him to remove the same from the premises. This article shall not apply to a repair shop. Junked vehicles retained at repair shops for parts or repair shall be placed behind a fence, meeting the requirements as set forth in section 78-40 for fencing. This article shall not apply to a vehicle in an enclosed building.

(b) No person shall leave a vehicle, abandoned vehicle, or junked vehicle on a street, highway, or public property in excess of 24 hours.

(c) No person shall offer a vehicle for sale on public property unless approved by the city council.

(d) All vehicle storage lots shall be fenced to meet the fencing requirements of this article

Section 78-43 Impounding

The chief of police or any person designated by him is hereby authorized to remove or have removed any vehicle left at any commercial or industrial zone in the city limits or any property within the police jurisdiction or any street, highway, or public property within the city limits, or the police jurisdiction thereof, which reasonably appears to be in violation of this article. Such vehicle shall be impounded until lawfully claimed or disposed of.