Call the Police Department’s 24-hour AVA Hotline at 408-615-4778 or submit a service request in MySantaClara. Please only use one means for submitting a potential abandoned vehicle. Do not report a potential abandoned vehicle on social media.

A Community Service Officer (CSO) cannot simply tow a vehicle once you file a complaint.

Law enforcement must adhere to State statute, County Service Authority regulations and local ordinances to investigate complaints, take enforcement action (when appropriate) and file reimbursement requests for costs associated with removal of abandoned vehicles. 

Once a member of the public files a potential abandoned vehicle report, a CSO will:

• Respond within four (4) days;
• If the vehicle meets the AVA criteria, the CSO places an orange warning tag on the vehicle and mark the tires or marks the tires with no warning. If a vehicle has a prior complaint, anywhere in the city limits, a second warning sticker is not placed on the vehicle;
• The CSO will return to recheck any time after 72 hours, as time allows. This recheck generally takes place within five (5) business days. At that time, the CSO may cite or work with the registered owner by giving an extension of time for them to abate the vehicle;
• If a vehicle has not moved after 10 days from being marked, it is subject to being towed;
• If a CSO requests the vehicle be towed, the tow company has 24 hours to pick up the vehicle once the request is made.

The abatement process can be lengthy. During the process, if the vehicle is moved it is no longer considered abandoned and the abatement process concludes.

Given the volume of potential abandoned vehicle abatement submissions received by the Police Department each year combined with the Police Department's current staffing levels, we are unable to provide updates to the reporting party on each step of the abatement process. As a result, reports of potential abandoned vehicles submitted on MySantaClara are closed following communication of the above process. 

Yes, as long as the vehicle is operable and currently licensed. There is no rule against parking in front of someone else’s residence or business as long as it is not blocking a driveway, fire hydrant, in a red, green, blue or yellow zone, reserved for permit parking or violating current Federal, State or local law.

Keep in mind, public parking is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. An individual has no legal right to the space in front of their residence or business.

A vehicle cannot be parked on any street, alley or city parking lot for more than a consecutive period of 72-hours. Doing so is a violation of the city’s street parking ordinance.

For more information, reference Santa Clara Municipal Code Section 10.05.470.

City Code Section 10.05.470 does limit individuals from parking in any one location for over 72-hours. The Police Department relies on the public to report such violations, and it cannot simply tow a vehicle as a result of a resident filing a complaint. The process for submitting a 72-hour parking violation is the same as submitting a vehicle as possibly abandoned.

To report illegal dumping, contact the Public Works Division at (408) 615-3080.

Vehicles are considered abandoned if they are a safety concern or contributing to extreme blight, such as:

• On jacks / blocks
• Dismantled or physically impaired (e.g. no engine, missing / shattered window, flat tire, etc.)
• Vandalized / graffiti (non-commercial vehicle)
• Missing both the front and back license plate
• Attracting illegal dumping activities
• Registration expired over six (6) months

Reports of "old," "dirty," or "ugly," are not by themselves a reason to presume a vehicle is abandoned. 

Inoperable vehicles on private property are addressed in Santa Clara Municipal Code Section 10.10.010. Violations of such are handled by the City of Santa Clara Community Development Department, Code Enforcement Division. For more information call 408-615-2460. These complaints can typically take up to one month to be abated due to the private property aspect and laws requiring specific notifications of property owners, registered owners and legal owners involved.

An abandoned vehicle differs from owners using a public street to store their vehicle, exceeding the 72-hour parking restriction. 

The California Vehicle Code allows for the abatement and removal of vehicles, or parts thereof, from the public right-of-way. It also allows for the recovery of costs associated with vehicle abatement.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles collects $1 from each passenger vehicle and $3 for larger commercial vehicles to fund the program.