Broward County, FL Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Licensing agency
- Environmental Licensing & Building Permitting Division
- Applies
- Countywide: unincorporated area and all municipalities
- Nonconsent applicants
- Must pass criminal background check
- Signage
- Posted at least 24 hours before tow
- Penalty
- Chapter 8½ citation, license revocation
Summary
Broward County requires every towing and vehicle immobilization company operating countywide to hold a current operating license from the Environmental Licensing and Building Permitting Division before towing, storing, or advertising nonconsent tow services.
Except as provided in paragraph (b), below, no person shall immobilize or tow a vehicle in Broward County, store a towed vehicle in Broward County, or advertise such services, regardless of whether that person's primary place of business is inside or outside Broward County, without first obtaining and maintaining a current and valid operating license for the applicable service and providing a copy of a current, valid operating license to each municipality in Broward County in which the licensee will operate.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72 | Administrative Code: Supplement 28).
Full Breakdown
Under Broward County Code § 20-176.13, no company may tow or immobilize a vehicle, store a towed vehicle, or advertise towing services anywhere in Broward County, including inside Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, or any of the 31 municipalities, without a current operating license from the Environmental Licensing and Building Permitting Division, and licensees must give each municipality where they operate a copy of that license. Nonconsent tow applicants face a criminal background check under § 20-176.14(c) and a Division inspection of their storage facility and office before the license issues. Operating without one, or towing/immobilizing without required signage, is a Chapter 8½ code enforcement violation.
Violations & Fines
Towing or immobilizing without a current operating license, without proper tow-away signage, or without a written property-owner contract triggers Chapter 8½ civil penalties, license revocation, and mandatory reimbursement to the vehicle owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the towing license requirement apply inside cities like Fort Lauderdale?
What does a nonconsent tow company need before it can get licensed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Broward County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Broward County to another location·View the Florida business licensing & operations overview
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