Quick answer: California law allows a car to be removed from a public street if it has been parked or left standing for 72 or more consecutive hours in violation of a local ordinance that authorizes removal. That rule is in California Vehicle Code 22651(k). The City of Los Angeles and many surrounding cities have local ordinances that use this authority, which is why “72-hour parking” complaints are such a common cause of tows in LA neighborhoods.
This guide explains how the 72-hour rule works, how it gets enforced, how to avoid a tow if you are traveling or storing a car, and what to do if your car has already been taken. It is written by the TowCars team as general information. Local details change, so check the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) or your own city for the current rules.
What the 72-hour rule actually says
CVC 22651(k) is short. It lets a peace officer or a city parking enforcement employee remove a vehicle “if a vehicle is parked or left standing upon a highway for 72 or more consecutive hours in violation of a local ordinance authorizing removal.” Three parts of that sentence matter:
- “Highway” in the Vehicle Code covers public roads and streets in general, including residential streets, not only freeways.
- “72 or more consecutive hours” means three full days without the car being moved.
- “In violation of a local ordinance” means the state law does not apply by itself. A city or county has to have its own ordinance. Most large cities in Los Angeles County do, but the exact wording differs from city to city.
Why it matters so much in Los Angeles
Street parking in much of LA is crowded, and neighbors notice cars that do not move. Long-parked cars, especially ones with flat tires, dust, or expired tags, often get reported. In the City of Los Angeles, residents can report a vehicle they believe has been left too long through the city’s MyLA311 service. A report does not mean an instant tow. Enforcement usually involves an officer visiting, marking or noting the car, and returning later to see whether it has moved.
The practical result: if you leave a car on the street while you are on vacation, in the hospital, or simply not using it, you can come home to an empty spot and a storage bill.
How enforcement usually works
Each city sets its own procedures, so treat this as a general picture rather than a promise of what will happen on your street:
- A complaint or patrol. A neighbor reports the car, or an officer notices it.
- The car is checked and marked. Officers commonly note the position of the tires or the time, and many agencies leave a warning notice on the windshield.
- A follow-up visit. After at least 72 hours, an officer returns. If the car has not moved, it may be cited and towed.
- Storage and notice. The car goes to a storage yard, and the agency must send a storage notice to the registered and legal owners. Under CVC 22852, that notice must be mailed or delivered within 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays.
Does moving the car a few feet reset the clock?
Do not assume so. The state law says “consecutive hours,” but local ordinances and enforcement practices define what counts as moving the vehicle. Some cities expect a car to be moved a meaningful distance, not just rolled forward a little. If you rely on short moves to keep a car on the street, check your city’s ordinance first. The safest approach is to actually drive the car regularly or keep it off the street.
72-hour rule versus abandoned vehicle rules
These two ideas are related but not identical:
- The 72-hour rule is about time. A perfectly good, registered car can be towed just for staying in one spot too long.
- Abandoned vehicle rules under CVC 22669 are about whether the car has been abandoned. Section 22669(d) also says that a car on a public road that lacks an engine, transmission, wheels, tires, doors, windshield or other parts needed to drive safely may be removed immediately upon discovery.
Abandoning a car is itself illegal under CVC 22523, with a minimum fine of $100 on conviction plus the costs of removal. We cover that in more detail in our guide to abandoned vehicles in Los Angeles.
Other rules that often apply to the same car
A car that sits for days frequently picks up other problems that can also justify a tow under CVC 22651:
- Street sweeping or posted restrictions. Many LA streets have weekly cleaning restrictions. A car that sits for days will often be ticketed for these, and posted tow-away zones are covered by subdivision (n).
- Expired registration. If registration has been expired for more than six months, subdivision (o) can apply after the officer checks DMV records.
- Five or more unpaid tickets. Subdivision (i) allows impound when five or more parking tickets have gone unanswered.
This is why a “simple” 72-hour tow can turn into a bigger bill if the car has also collected parking tickets.
How to avoid a 72-hour tow
If you are traveling
- Park in a driveway, garage, or a paid lot that allows long stays.
- Ask a trusted friend or family member to drive the car during your trip, and make sure they know the local street-cleaning schedule.
- Check the posted signs on your block before you leave, including temporary paper signs for street work or filming. Those can go up while you are gone.
If you are storing a car you do not drive
- A public street is not storage. Consider a garage, a storage facility, or off-street parking you control.
- If the car does not run, it is better to arrange a tow to a shop or storage space than to leave it on the curb. Our repair or junk calculator can help you decide whether it is worth fixing.
- If you are ready to get rid of it, our guide to selling a junk car explains the paperwork.
If you are in the hospital or have an emergency
Ask someone to move the car for you as soon as you can. If it is towed while you are unable to deal with it, contact the agency once you are able, explain the situation, and ask about a post-storage hearing if you believe the tow should not have happened.
If your car was towed for the 72-hour rule
- Find the car. Use the official lookup options in our impound lot finder or our Los Angeles towing guide.
- Get the release. Some agencies require a release form before the yard will hand over the car. Ask whether one is needed.
- Bring proof of ownership, ID, and payment. See our impound lot checklist and our guide to payment rules.
- Act within the first day if you can. Under Civil Code 3068.1, a car released within 24 hours of being placed in storage can be charged for no more than one day of storage.
- Request a hearing if you disagree. You generally have 10 days from the date on the notice to request a post-storage hearing under CVC 22852.
- Check the bill. Our tow bill checker and towing terms glossary explain common line items.
What happens if you do nothing
A towed car that is not claimed does not just sit forever. Under California’s lien rules, the storage facility can begin lien sale proceedings, and lower-value vehicles can be sold within weeks. We explain the timelines in our guide to lien sales of towed cars in California. If you no longer want the car, it is still important to deal with it, because under CVC 22523(f) the last registered owner can be liable for any amount still owed after the car is sold, unless they had already reported a sale or transfer to the DMV or filed a theft report.
Common questions
Does the 72-hour rule apply in my driveway?
The rule in CVC 22651(k) is about vehicles on a public road. Private property has its own rules, and some cities also have ordinances about inoperable vehicles stored on private property. Check your city’s code.
Does a car cover protect me?
No. A covered car parked on the street for more than 72 hours in violation of a local ordinance can still be removed.
Can I fight a 72-hour tow?
Yes, through the post-storage hearing process. Bring anything that shows the car was moved, such as dated photos, receipts, or a parking app history. The hearing decides whether there were reasonable grounds for the storage.
Key takeaways
- California allows removal after 72 consecutive hours on a public street when a local ordinance authorizes it, and LA-area cities commonly enforce it.
- Moving the car a short distance may not be enough. Check your city’s rules.
- Long-parked cars often face other violations at the same time, which can raise the cost.
- If towed, act fast, gather your papers, and request a hearing within 10 days if you disagree.
Prepared by the TowCars team using the official California Vehicle Code and Civil Code text on leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. This is general information, not legal advice. Local ordinances vary, so confirm the rules with your city.
About the Author
