Process of Removal of Abandoned Vehicles
Procedures for Removing Vehicles from Private Property
The owner of the property as listed on the latest assessment roll and the last registered vehicle owner shall be notified by registered or certified mail to abate and remove the vehicle. The notice shall state that the owner has 10 business days to correct the violation or appeal the notice. If the vehicle was abandoned without the consent of the property owner and he or she has direct control of the property, the property owner may submit a Statement of Nonresponsiblility within 10 business days of the mailing of the Notice of Intention to Abate and Remove Vehicle. The Notice of Intention to Abate and Remove Vehicle may be waived by the owner of the property and /or vehicle with a signed release authorizing removal of the vehicle and waiving further interest in the vehicle or part thereof.
Appeals must be submitted to the Division of Environmental Health within 10 days of the date on the Notice of Intention to Abate and Remove Vehicle. Appeals will be heard by the Merced County Housing Advisory and Appeals Board.
If there is no response to the first notice, a second written notice shall be sent to the owner of the property and last registered owner of the vehicle indicating that the vehicle will be removed within 5 days of the date of the notice.
If the vehicle remains on the property after the second notice, the department will contact the appropriate auto dismantler under contract with the County to remove the vehicle(s).
After the vehicle has been removed, the owner of the property or vehicle owner will be assessed those costs associated with the vehicle removal pursuant to Merced County Code. In some cases where the property owner had no responsibility for the abandoned vehicle, no costs would be assessed.
