Alachua County, FL Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Alachua County Code § 51.395
- Class A base rate cap
- $150-$160 rotation/trespass tow
- Storage cap (Class A)
- $40/day inside, $30/day outside
- Grace period
- First 6 hours of storage free
- Access fee cap
- $100 after-hours gate/access fee
- Applies to
- Tows originating in unincorporated county
Summary
Alachua County Code § 51.395 caps what a towing company may charge for nonconsensual tows and storage originating in unincorporated Alachua County, setting maximum base rates, mileage, hourly, and storage fees by vehicle class. Charging above the cap is a violation enforceable by law enforcement and code enforcement citation.
The following maximum rates, applicable until the same are changed by resolution of the board, are to be charged for nonconsensual towing on property when the point of origin of the tow is within the unincorporated area of the county... (1)Class A vehicles (gross vehicle weight through 10,000 pounds or vehicle carrying a vessel 15 feet or less in height): .....a.Rotation tow base rate .....$150.00b.Private property/trespass tow base rate .....$160.00c.Mileage rate in additional to bate rate, per mile, charge upon hook-up .....$6.00 ... e.Storage fee (inside), per day .....$40.00f.Storage fee (outside), per day .....$30.00 ... Enforcement and Jurisdiction. It shall be unlawful and a violation of this ordinance for any operator, individual, company, or entity to impose rates, fees or charges in excess of the maximum allowable rates established under this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 63).
Full Breakdown
395 sets binding maximum rates for 'nonconsensual towing,' defined as towing or immobilizing a vehicle without the owner's or operator's consent, trespass tows, accident-scene tows, and tows where the operator is unavailable, when the tow originates in unincorporated Alachua County. 00 outside. 86 rotator base and hourly rate. 78's lien-notice requirements. 00 in the yard. Subsection (g) makes it 'unlawful and a violation of this ordinance for any operator, individual, company, or entity to impose rates, fees or charges in excess of the maximum allowable rates,' enforceable by both law enforcement and code enforcement officers. The caps do not apply inside a municipality that has adopted its own towing-rate ordinance.
Violations & Fines
Charging more than the § 51.395 rate caps is 'unlawful and a violation of this ordinance,' and both law enforcement officers and code enforcement officers may issue citations to the towing operator, individual, company, or entity responsible. Owners whose vehicles are impounded may also request a hearing under § 51.42 to contest the impoundment and the towing or storage charges assessed against them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can a towing company charge to tow my car from private property in unincorporated Alachua County?
Can a towing company charge me for storage the same day my car is towed?
What can I do if a tow company overcharges me?
Do these towing rate caps apply if my car is towed from inside Gainesville?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Alachua County
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