Disposal of abandoned vessel or motor.
Columbus City Codes § 921.303
in effect921.303 - Disposal of abandoned vessel or motor.
(A) As used in this section and Section 921.304 of city code or similar statute in 1547.304 of the Revised Code.
(1) "Abandoned junk vessel or outboard motor," means any vessel or outboard motor meeting all of the following requirements:
(a) It has been left on private property for at least seventy-two (72) hours without the permission of the person having the right to the possession of the property; left in a sunken, beached, or drifting condition for any period of time; or left in a docked condition, on a public street or other property open to the public, or upon or within the right-of-way of any waterway, road, or highway, for forty-eight (48) hours or longer without notification to the chief of police of the reasons for leaving the vessel or motor in any such place or condition;
(b) It is three (3) years old, or older;
(c) It is extensively damaged, such damage including but not limited to any of the following: missing deck, hull, transom, gunwales, motor, or out-drive;
(d) It is apparently inoperable;
(e) It has a fair market value of two hundred dollars ($200.00) or less.
(2) "Law enforcement agency" means any organization or unit comprised of law enforcement officers, as defined in Section 2901.01 of the Revised Code.
(B) The chief of police, upon notification of such action, shall order any abandoned junk vessel or outboard motor to be photographed by a law enforcement officer. The officer shall record the make of vessel or motor, the hull identification number or serial number when available, and shall also detail the damage or missing equipment to substantiate the value of two hundred dollars ($200.00) or less. The chief shall thereupon immediately dispose of the abandoned junk vessel or outboard motor to a marine salvage dealer or other facility owned, operated, or under contract to the city for the destruction of such vessels or motors. The records and photographs relating to the abandoned junk vessel or outboard motor shall be retained by the law enforcement agency ordering the disposition of the vessel or motor for a period of at least two (2) years. The law enforcement agency shall execute in quadruplicate an affidavit, as prescribed by the Chief of the Division of Watercraft, describing the vessel or motor and the manner in which it was disposed of, and that all requirements of this section shall have been complied with, and shall sign and file the same with the clerk of courts of the county in which the vessel or motor was abandoned. The clerk of courts shall retain the original of the affidavit for the clerk's file, shall furnish one (1) copy thereof to the Chief of the Division of Watercraft, one (1) copy to the marine salvage dealer or other facility handling the disposal of the vessel or motor, and one (1) copy to the law enforcement agency ordering the disposal, who shall file such copy with the records and photographs relating to the disposal. Any moneys arising from the disposal of an abandoned junk vessel or outboard motor shall be credited to the general revenue fund of the city of Columbus.
Notwithstanding Section 921.301 of the city code, any vessel or outboard motor meeting the requirements of subsections (A)(1)(c) to (e) of this section which has remained unclaimed by the owner or lien-holder for a period of ten (10) days or longer following notification as provided in Section 921.301 of the city code may be disposed of as provided in this section.
(Ord. 805-05 § 1 (part).)
Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT9STPAPUPRCO_CH921WARE_921.303DIABVEMOFetched: 10/27/2026