The 48-hour clock on a wrecked car
Chicago Heights writes its junk-car rules in two steps. First, Sec. 28-432 defines a nonoperating vehicle: one with its engine, wheels or parts removed or damaged for 30 days or more so it can’t run. Then Sec. 28-435 says a dismantled, wrecked or junked vehicle can’t stay on any property longer than 48 hours unless it’s inside an enclosed building.
After that, the city or police can send written notice ordering you to dispose of it (Sec. 28-436), and impound it if you don’t (Sec. 28-437). The street, sidewalk and parkway are off limits for these cars from the start under Sec. 28-434.
Moving the car somewhere else in town rarely helps. Parkway parking areas can’t hold a junked car at all (Sec. 28-375), and paid parking lots with four or more spaces can’t store abandoned or dismantled vehicles either (Sec. 19-34).
Alleys, two-flats and the arterial snow rule
This is an older industrial city, founded in the 1890s around steel, glass and roof-tile plants, and its housing shows it. More than a quarter of units sit in multi-unit buildings, most of them two to four units. If the car is in a rear garage off an alley, note that alley parking must leave 10 feet clear, which usually leaves room to bring a truck in.
When you book, tell us whether the car is in front, in a rear garage or on a side drive, and whether it rolls. If it’s stuck at the curb on an arterial such as Halsted Street, Chicago Road, Western Avenue, 14th Street or 26th Street, watch the forecast: once snow there tops 1 inch, parking is banned until 8 hours after it stops, and cars are towed.
Police can also remove any vehicle left unattended on a highway for 24 hours or more (Sec. 28-347). Same-day pickup is often possible, which matters when a car is stranded on a busy street.
No city sticker, but state papers still count
The city’s vehicle sticker division has been reserved since 2017, so there’s no city tag to cancel. The state side is what matters. Tell us which papers you have, such as the title, registration or a bill of sale, plus your ID. The state, not the city, decides which of those papers are good for a scrap sale, and we’ll check yours when you call.
You’re paid at pickup. Curious what drives an offer up or down? See what a junk car is worth. We also cover South Chicago Heights, Ford Heights and the other towns on our locations list.
Selling a car in Chicago Heights: common questions
How long can a wrecked car sit in my Chicago Heights yard?
Under Sec. 28-435, a dismantled, wrecked or junked vehicle can't remain on private property more than 48 hours unless it's inside an enclosed building. The city or police can order it disposed of under Sec. 28-436 and impound it under Sec. 28-437 if the order is ignored.
Is there a Chicago Heights vehicle sticker to deal with when I sell?
We found no current city sticker requirement: the vehicle-license division of the code has been reserved since Ord. No. 2017-6 in 2017. Your Illinois plates and registration are a separate matter, so take the plates off before the car is towed.
Can you get to a garage that only opens onto an alley?
Usually. Sec. 28-343 requires anyone parked in an alley to leave 10 feet clear and not block driveways, so the lane should be passable. Tell us how the garage door opens, whether the car rolls, and what's parked near it.