The City of Mount Rainier’s Code Compliance Department reminds our community members of the existing City ordinances pertaining to abandoned or non-road-worthy motor vehicles and parking of unregistered vehicles in the City.

SECTION 6-116 - Abandoned or non-road-worthy motor vehicles 

1. It shall be unlawful for any person to abandon any vehicle at any place within the City, nor shall any owner, lessee or custodian in charge of any lot, field, road, street, lane or his/her property, permit any abandoned or non-roadworthy motor vehicle to remain on such property except in an enclosed garage for a period longer than ten (10) days. (Ord 5-2003, 4/29/03)

2. For the purpose of this section, an abandoned or non-roadworthy motor vehicle is any vehicle which is in such condition as to be unable to pass inspection by the Motor Vehicle Administration, wrecked, dismantled, partially dismantled, substantially damaged, disabled or inoperable, abandoned or in disrepair; one (1) in a condition that constitutes a breeding ground for rats, mosquitos, or other vermin or pests; or one (1) that is unregistered or unlicensed, displays no license or an expired license, is improperly registered, or bears the license plates of another vehicle.

3. Under the authority of this section, any sworn police officer or code enforcement officer of the City of Mount Rainier may impound the abandoned or non-road-worthy vehicle, after attaching a notice on the presumed abandoned or non-roadworthy vehicle, which shall state, in part, "the attached motor vehicle is presumed abandoned or non-road-worthy; if not removed or brought into compliance with Section 6-116 of the General Ordinances of the City of Mount Rainier within ten (10) days from the date upon this notice, this motor vehicle shall be impounded and sent to a scrap processor." Likewise, the motor vehicle owner will be liable for all towing, storage, preservation and all other charges relating to the disposition of the motor vehicle.

(Ord. 5-2003, 4/29/03)

Section 13-112 - Parking of unregistered vehicles

It shall be unlawful to park or leave parked any motor vehicle with expired registration, no registration, altered registration, or registration listed to another vehicle on any street or alley within the City of Mount Rainier. Any such vehicle is subject to impoundment and parking citation issued.

New to Maryland Titling and Registering Your Vehicle Information 

As a new resident of Maryland, you must register your vehicle within 60 days of moving to Maryland. If you delay beyond 60 days, you will not be eligible for a tax credit for any titling tax paid in another state, and you may be subject to a citation for an out-of-state registration.

For any questions, please contact the Code Compliance Department at 301.832.876.