Adams County residents who treat county parking lots like free storage space may soon find themselves facing a ticket—or watching their car disappear on the back of a tow truck.
The Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved Ordinance 2026‑4, a new set of rules governing who can park on county‑owned property and for how long. The move follows months of complaints about abandoned vehicles, inoperable cars lingering for days, and people using county lots for everything except county business.
County attorney Clayton Gerber walked commissioners through the ordinance during a brief public hearing, describing it as a common‑sense effort to keep county lots functional and safe. The rules allow parking for residents conducting county business, county employees, elected and appointed officials, jurors, and authorized vehicles. Everyone else? Not so much.
The ordinance bans long‑term parking, vehicle storage, and leaving inoperable cars on county property for more than 24 hours unless the owner is actively arranging removal. It also prohibits non‑emergency vehicle maintenance in county lots—no more oil changes or brake jobs in the courthouse parking lot.
Enforcement will come with teeth. Violators can be cited, with fines expected to start around $50 for a first offense and increase for repeat violations. In more serious cases, county deputies will have the authority to tow vehicles immediately.
“If it’s blocking a fire lane, a building entrance, a handicap space, or creating a safety hazard, it can be towed on the spot,” Gerber said, noting that only county deputies—not city police—can enforce county ordinances.
Commissioners asked several practical questions, including how much time owners should be given to move a vehicle after receiving a citation. Gerber emphasized that towing decisions ultimately rest with the enforcement officer’s discretion, but the ordinance gives the county flexibility to act when needed.
No members of the public spoke during the hearing, and the ordinance passed without opposition.
Commissioner Doug Bauman summed up the board’s thinking: “We’re not trying to be heavy‑handed. We just need our lots to be used for what they’re meant for.”
The new rules take effect immediately.