Arvada, CO Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)

Article VI of Chapter 54 sets out Arvada's non-consent towing authority. Sec. 54-211 and 54-212 declare abandoned, inoperable, or evidentiary vehicles a threat to public health and safety and authorize impoundment as a remedy. Sec. 54-213(a) lists 15 specific grounds for removal, impound, or tow by police, city employees, public works parking enforcement, or another chief-of-police designee, including a vehicle obstructing traffic, an abandoned or inoperable vehicle, an emergency such as fire or flood, a DUI arrest with no sober licensed driver available, a vehicle in a fire lane, a vehicle blocking ingress or egress to a driveway, and a vehicle carrying three or more outstanding civil parking citations unpaid for more than 21 days.

Towed vehicles go to a lot run by a city-designated tow contractor, and under subsection (c) no vehicle is released until all unpaid civil penalties, administrative costs, citation fines, and towing and storage costs are paid in full, with an exception for vehicles seized solely for evidentiary value. Sec. 54-214 governs notice and appeal: written notice must be mailed within 72 hours of impoundment (or personally served), and it must include the statement that the owner has ten calendar days to request a hearing at the city manager's office, 8101 Ralston Road, or waive the right to one.

A requested hearing is held, when reasonable, within seven calendar days, decided by a hearing officer on only two questions: whether the requester has the right to possess the vehicle, and whether there was legal authority to impound it. If unclaimed and unpaid within 30 calendar days of impoundment, the notice states the vehicle will be sold. A final hearing officer decision is appealable under Colorado Rule of Civil Procedure 106(a)(4).