How do I report an abandoned vehicle?

Use Salt Lake City 311 online or phone service to submit the vehicle location, description, and photos; the Streets Division or police will inspect for ordinance violations.

What happens after I report an abandoned vehicle?

City staff inspect the vehicle, issue tags or notice if it meets abandonment criteria, and may tow and impound it under municipal procedures.

How can an owner reclaim an impounded vehicle?

The owner must contact the impound facility, provide proof of ownership and identification, and pay towing and storage fees; exact processes and fee amounts are set by the impound operator and municipal rules.

Report Abandoned Vehicles - Salt Lake City Ordinance

Transportation Utah 3 Minutes Read · published February 10, 2026

Salt Lake City, Utah drivers who find an abandoned vehicle should know city ordinance procedures for reporting, enforcement, and reclaiming property. This guide explains how to identify an abandoned vehicle under local rules, who enforces those rules, what penalties and administrative steps may follow, and practical actions drivers and owners can take to report, appeal, or retrieve a vehicle.

Penalties & Enforcement

Salt Lake City enforces abandoned-vehicle rules through municipal code provisions and operational procedures administered by the Streets Division and Salt Lake City Police Department, with public reporting handled through the city 311 system or designated online reporting. Specific fine amounts and schedules are not specified on the cited official pages; see the Help and Support / Resources links for primary sources and current code text.

Enforcer: Streets Division and Salt Lake City Police Department; complaints accepted via City 311 or the Streets Division contact page.
Fines: not specified on the cited page for base amounts or per-day penalties.
Escalation: official materials do not list specific first/repeat/continuing offence ranges on the published summary pages.
Inspection & towing: abandoned vehicles may be tagged, held for owner reclaim, and towed by contract tow operators under city authority.
Non-monetary sanctions: towing, impoundment, lien and sale procedures, and administrative orders are used to remove or dispose of abandoned vehicles.

Report promptly—delays can lead to towing and impound fees.

Applications & Forms

The city accepts abandoned-vehicle reports through its 311/reporting system; owners reclaiming an impounded vehicle must complete the impound release process and pay applicable towing and storage fees at the impound facility. A dedicated abandoned-vehicle reporting form number is not published on the city summary pages.

Reporting method: online 311 report or phone submission via the City 311 service.
Impound release: identity, proof of ownership, and payment of towing/storage fees are normally required; exact fee schedules are provided by the impound facility.
Fees & deadlines: specific fees and redemption deadlines are detailed by the impound operator or in the municipal code; not specified on the city summary pages.

How to Identify and Report an Abandoned Vehicle

An abandoned vehicle is typically one that appears inoperable, lacks current registration, is left for an extended time, or is clearly deserted on public property. To report: document location and condition, note license plate and vehicle description, and submit a report to City 311 with photos where possible.

When to report: when a vehicle is blocking access, visibly derelict, or parked in one spot for multiple days without movement.
What to include: exact address or nearest intersection, vehicle make/model/color, license plate, visible damage, and photos if available.
Response time: the city will schedule inspection; exact inspection timelines are not specified on the summary pages.

Keep photos and timestamps to support an appeal or release process.

FAQ

How do I report an abandoned vehicle?: Use Salt Lake City 311 online or phone service to submit the vehicle location, description, and photos; the Streets Division or police will inspect for ordinance violations.
What happens after I report an abandoned vehicle?: City staff inspect the vehicle, issue tags or notice if it meets abandonment criteria, and may tow and impound it under municipal procedures.
How can an owner reclaim an impounded vehicle?: The owner must contact the impound facility, provide proof of ownership and identification, and pay towing and storage fees; exact processes and fee amounts are set by the impound operator and municipal rules.

How-To

Confirm the vehicle’s location and take clear photos showing license plate and condition.
Submit an abandoned-vehicle report through Salt Lake City 311 with the details and images.
Retain copies of your report and any confirmation number; follow up with 311 if you do not receive inspection updates.
If your vehicle is towed, contact the listed impound operator promptly to learn required documents and pay fees for release.

Key Takeaways

Report suspected abandoned vehicles via City 311 with photos and precise location.
Enforcement includes inspection, tagging, towing, and impound—penalties and fees are set by municipal rules and impound operators.
Contact the Streets Division or 311 for procedural questions and to appeal administrative actions.