Charles County, MD Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)

Chapter 287, Article V, adopted in 2018 to "safeguard the public interests against predatory towing" under § 287-19, sets up the county's towing permit program. Section 287-22 makes it unlawful to provide towing services in Charles County without a permit; violating this section is a misdemeanor carrying a fine of not less than $500 or imprisonment not exceeding two months, or both, under § 287-22C, and an unpermitted tow truck may be impounded until the operator shows proof of a permit or pays a $500 fine under § 287-22D.

Section 287-25 creates two permit levels: Level 1 covers consensual towing (owner-, insurer-, lienholder-, or police-requested) at a $250 initial fee and $25-per-truck annual renewal capped at $250; Level 2 covers nonconsensual towing from private property plus consensual towing at a $500 initial fee and $50-per-truck annual renewal capped at $500, with a further $25 medallion fee per truck. Section 287-24 requires applicants to disclose ownership, VIN, state registration, USDOT number and proof of insurance, and to identify their storage facility location. Section 287-25F lets the Sheriff's Office investigate applicants, including verifying that storage facilities are properly zoned, before issuing a permit.

Section 287-25M requires each permitted company to keep a one-year daily towing log recording plate and VIN, origin and destination, reason for the tow, and the authorizing person's name and phone number, and § 287-25N makes that log and the stored vehicles available for Sheriff's Office inspection. Section 287-23 exempts self-towing, free tows with the owner's permission, dealer vehicle transport, and government-owned tow operations.