Changes to Sunnyvale's 72-Hour Parking Law

To help address abandoned vehicles, City Council updated the City's 72-hour parking law on June 16, 2026.

Starting June 16, 2026:

• After being parked for 72 hours, a vehicle must be moved at least 1,000 feet.
• A vehicle cannot return to the same parking space for at least 24 hours.
• Vehicles cannot be rented or leased for people to live in while parked on public streets.

Public Safety will begin enforcing this new law on July 16, 2026.

The current 72-hour parking limit remains in effect until then. Beginning July 16, violations may result in a citation or the vehicle being towed at the owner's expense. Warnings are not required before enforcement.

These changes are intended to reduce abandoned vehicles, improve compliance with parking rules, and help keep Sunnyvale neighborhoods safe and accessible.

City and state codes allow vehicles to be parked on the street. Any vehicle left parked in the same spot on the street for more than 72 hours is in violation per Sunnyvale Municipal Code 10.16.120.

The Department of Public Safety offers a 24-hour Abandoned Vehicle Message Line for reporting of nuisance and abandoned vehicles. To make a report, you may call 408-730-7150, send an email to Vehicle Abatement or complete the following form below. Messages are retrieved on weekday mornings.

If you have already reported a vehicle via the hotline or online report, please do not submit a subsequent report.

Report an Abandoned Vehicle Online

Note: If your vehicle has been towed, see Towing and Vehicle Release.