Abandoned Vehicles

​How long can you park a vehicle on a city street?

Vehicles may not remain continuously parked for more than 72 hours on any city street [BMC 11.33.060(A)(25), BMC 11.33.60(A)(18)]. This rule applies to motorhomes, travel trailers, boat trailers, utility trailers, cars, trucks, vans, buses, motorcycles, and motor scooters.

Reporting an abandoned vehicle

You can report a vehicle online (link below) or by calling Public Works Parking Services at (360) 778-7784.

Instructions

Provide the vehicle’s location and a full description—make, model, color, and license plate number. Also, let us know how long the vehicle has been at the location. We will need your name and phone number so the responding officer or parking technician can contact you if needed.

Report a Vehicle

A parking technician will respond, place an orange warning tag on the vehicle, and document the vehicle’s location. The tag alerts the owner that someone has filed a complaint. The vehicle owner then has 72 hours to move the vehicle before it may be impounded.

Parking Services sends the vehicle owner a notice via USPS mail to the last known address listed in the Washington State Department of Licensing records.  The notice states that the vehicle is subject to impoundment if not removed. 

A parking technician will recheck the area for the orange-tagged vehicle sometime after the 72-hour warning period has lapsed. If officers find the vehicle at the same location and it hasn’t been moved, they may impound it.

To count as moved, the vehicle must pass through an intersection or park on a different street. If it shifts forward or backward less than one block, it remains in violation and may be impounded.

A parking technician or police officer may remove orange-tagged vehicles from the right of way after 72 hours if the owner has not moved the vehicle. Due to limited staffing, it may take us longer than 72 hours to tow the vehicle.

Yes. If there are extenuating circumstances, you may request additional time to move your vehicle. Please contact City of Bellingham Parking Services at (360) 778-7784 to request a one-time extension.

If you are the registered owner and/or legal owner, you will receive a notice of the vehicle impoundment from the City of Bellingham Parking Services, which includes the name of the towing company.  Contact the towing company directly to redeem/claim the vehicle (see below for contact information). 

Please note that we send this notice only to the last known address listed in the Washington State Department of Licensing records. Washington State Law requires that registered owners keep their current physical street address on the record.

If the owner doesn’t redeem or claim the vehicle, the City may sell it at public auction in accordance with RCW 46.55.130.

Contact information for towing companies that contract with the City:

ASAP Towing
3876 Ha​nnegan Rd
Bellingham, WA 98226-9103​
(360) 734-6465

Heston Hauling
3815 Bakerview Spur, Unit 3
Bellingham, WA 98226-7680
(360) 656-6001  

Johnson’s Towing
4058 Bakerview Valley Rd
Bellingham,WA 98226-7729
(360) 733-4232

Contacts

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