Cedar Park, TX Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit needed
- For incident/private-property tows
- Rotation list cap
- 5 companies per list
- Response time
- 30 min light/medium, 60 min heavy
- First violation
- Up to 30-day suspension
Summary
Towing companies performing incident-management or private-property tows within Cedar Park need a Police Department permit and a spot on the city's towing rotation list, capped at five companies per list.
Unless exempted by State law, it shall be unlawful for any person to operate a towing company, or to perform tow truck movements for incident management tows or private property tows in the City without a permit issued in accordance with this article.
(c) A wrecker company that has a proper certificate of registration or permit from the State is not required to obtain a permit from the City under this article in order to perform only consent or private property tows within, from, or through the limits of the City.
(d) All towing companies performing consent and nonconsent tows within the City shall comply with all applicable State laws. A failure to comply with State laws will be a violation of this article. (Ordinance CO11.24.21.E7 adopted 11/21/2024)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4973212; v14 updated 2026-06-25).
Full Breakdown
Article 4.04 requires a Police Department permit for any towing company performing incident-management tows (dispatched by police) or private-property tows within Cedar Park, unless the company already holds a valid state wrecker certificate and only performs consent tows. Permitted companies are placed on light-, medium-, or heavy-duty rotation lists capped at five companies each, and dispatched in rotation order by the chief of police. Section 4.04.005 requires 24/7 service and a response within 30 minutes for light or medium duty tows, or 60 minutes for heavy duty tows, or the call moves to the next company on the list.
Violations & Fines
First violation draws up to a 30-day permit suspension, a second within 12 months up to 90 days, and a third or subsequent violation can mean permanent revocation, per § 4.04.010(g).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all tow trucks need a Cedar Park permit?
How fast must a rotation tow truck respond?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cedar Park
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