Abandoned Vehicle on Private Property

When an inspector observes an inoperable vehicle on private property, the inspector will issue an Official Notice to the property owner. The notice will direct the owner to remove the inoperable vehicle from the lot by a specified due date, usually two to four weeks. The inspector will try to identify the owner of the vehicle and copy them on the Official Notice.

If the vehicle belongs to a resident of the property, the property owner must do the following:

• Send a letter to the tenant/vehicle owner directing the vehicle owner to remove or repair the vehicle by the due date listed in the Official Notice.
• The property owner must send a copy of this letter to the Inspection Unit of the City of Madison.

If the property owner takes these steps, the Inspection Unit's enforcement action will be with the owner of the vehicle.

Abandoned Vehicle on Private Property

The vehicle can be considered abandoned if the vehicle owner is not a resident of the property. It is then the property owner’s responsibility to contact a parking monitor at (608) 266-4275 and arranges to have the abandoned vehicle towed. The property owner or designee must:

• Meet the parking monitor at the site
• Sign the complaint.

The parking monitor will then tag the vehicle and arrange to have it towed. If the property owner fails to take these steps for the removal of the abandoned vehicle, the Inspection Units enforcement action will be solely with the property owner.

The Inspection Unit will work with both the property owner and the vehicle owner if there is a good faith effort to comply with the Official Notice. An extension may be possible when there is an active effort to repair or remove the vehicle.

When are tickets issued?

When enforcement becomes necessary, there are three steps taken before the vehicle is towed from the property:

1. First step, a ticket (first one, $172.00) will be issued to the property owner and/or vehicle owner if the vehicle is not repaired or removed by the due date.
2. Second step, a second due date is set, typically 10 days to two weeks, and a second ticket ($298.00) will be issued if the vehicle is not repaired or removed by the second due date.
3. Last step, then a third due date, typically 10 days to two weeks will be set. If the vehicle is still not repaired or removed by the third due date, a third ticket ($361.00) will be issued. The vehicle is then tagged by the inspector and will be towed from the property in 72 hours.