Can You Keep a Junk Car in Your Yard in Seattle?

Two Seattle pages answer most of this.

• SDCI’s junk storage page says you may not store “inoperable vehicles” as junk outdoors, and to store non-working vehicles in a garage or off site. The first penalty is $150, and additional violations are $500. Fines are higher in certain zones, and inspection charges may apply.
• SDCI’s parking and car storage page, citing SMC 23.44.016, says neighborhood-residential zones allow up to three cars outside, with a 20-foot setback from the front lot line.

Read together, those pages mean the number of cars and the condition of the cars are separate questions. Having only one car does not make an inoperable car fine, and having a running car does not mean you can park it anywhere on the lot.

We want to be plain about the edges of this guide:

• We read SDCI’s and SDOT’s public pages. We did not read the full Seattle Municipal Code text on this subject.
• We did not find a city definition that says exactly when a car counts as “inoperable”, so we are not offering one. Whether flat tires or expired tabs alone count is a question for SDCI.
• City rules on junk vehicles can change. If it matters, confirm the current rule with SDCI before you act. Ask for the code section in writing.

The state’s definition of a junk vehicle, in RCW 46.55.010, uses a separate test of three out of four criteria for a certified vehicle. That is state law for a certification process, so do not assume the city uses the same words.

RCW 46.55.240 allows cities to abate junk vehicles on private property. Under that statute, the costs can be charged to the registered owner unless a report of sale was filed, or else to the property owner. A landowner may deny responsibility at the hearing, which matters if a car was left by someone else, and our abandoned car guide covers that case.

1. Decide whether it can be saved

   Ask a mechanic for a written quote and compare it with the car’s value. A project you are really working on is different from a car you have stopped thinking about. Our guide to the project car you will never finish can help you be honest about which one it is.

2. If you are keeping it, get it inside

   A garage solves the visibility question, and it protects the car.

3. If it has real value, sell it privately

   A classic or a sought-after model may be worth more to an enthusiast than to any scrap buyer. Take the time to find out.

4. If it is done, have it removed

   The car does not need to run. Call us and describe where it sits, and we will tell you whether a flatbed can reach it. Our guide to tight spots covers access. See non-running car removal.

If fluids have been leaking, read what to do about a leaking car before pickup. If you already have a notice, follow its deadline and read our code violation guide.