Beaumont, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Chapter 5.51, Ord. No. 1078 (December 6, 2016)
- Entry requirement
- Towing service agreement with the City
- Contractor count
- Set by Police Chief at least every five years
- Appeal window
- Ten calendar days to the City Manager
- Agreement signing
- Within 30 calendar days after selection
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, plus suspension or termination
Summary
In the City of Beaumont, California, no person or towing company can perform non-consensual towing, meaning tows ordered by the Police Department or another authorized City employee, without a towing service agreement with the City. The Police Chief sets the number of rotation contractors at least every five years, and violating the chapter is a misdemeanor.
No person, including, without limitation, a towing company shall perform or provide non-consensual towing services in the City unless the person has entered into a towing service agreement with the City to perform or provide such services.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 5.51 of the Beaumont Municipal Code, Rotational Non-Consensual Towing Services, was adopted by Ordinance No. 1078 on December 6, 2016 and governs tows requested by the Beaumont Police Department. Section 5.51.010 states that it is not intended to govern tows requested by vehicle owners or private property owners, except as permitted by law. Section 5.51.030 bars anyone from performing non-consensual towing in the City without a towing service agreement, and Section 5.51.020 defines the rotation list as the City's list of authorized towing contractors called on a rotational, call-by-call basis.
The Police Chief writes the rules and specifications for tow drivers, tow vehicles and vehicle storage facilities under Section 5.51.040. They can require fees, set by City Council resolution, to cover proposal review, background checks and fingerprinting, and inspection of vehicles, equipment and facilities. At least every five years the Police Chief decides in writing how many contractors are needed, weighing Police Department operational needs, the City's population, its land area, current contractors' average response times and administrative burden. That determination is posted for ten days, and an interested person can ask the City Manager to review it within ten calendar days.
Contractors are chosen through a request for proposals, and a selection can be appealed to the City Manager within ten calendar days, with a written decision due within ten calendar days of receiving the appeal. Selected companies take over on January 1 of the following year and must sign the towing service agreement within 30 calendar days after selection. The agreement covers equipment and storage standards, conditions for releasing vehicles, indemnity of the City, minimum insurance and the term, and the Police Chief can terminate any contractor at any time without cause on written notice. Under Section 5.51.090 the City can also run its own towing service and storage facilities.
Violations & Fines
Under Section 5.51.100, any person, including an authorized towing contractor, tow driver or towing company, who violates the chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor. A contractor or driver who violates the rules and specifications also faces suspension and termination under the towing service agreement or the rules and specifications. Performing a police-ordered tow in Beaumont without a City agreement breaks Section 5.51.030.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any tow company respond to a Beaumont Police tow?
How many towing companies does Beaumont contract with?
Does the towing chapter apply if I call my own tow truck?
What happens if a Beaumont towing contractor breaks the rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Beaumont
California rules heatmap·Compare Beaumont to another location·View the California business licensing & operations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Towing Companies in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Riverside County handle towing companies.