Denver, CO Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Drive-off fee cap
- $15 max if owner arrives first
- Police notice
- Within 30 minutes of the tow
- License required
- Private Towing License, Excise & Licenses
- Out-of-city tow
- Requires owner's consent
- Max penalty
- $999 fine or 300 days jail
Summary
Denver bars towing a vehicle off private property without the owner's or property owner's authorization, requires police notice within 30 minutes, and caps the drive-off fee at $15 if the owner shows up before the tow is complete.
It shall be unlawful: ... (7)For a public towing service or operator to require an owner or custodian of a vehicle located on private property, which vehicle the public towing service or operator has been authorized to tow or otherwise move, to pay a service charge in excess of fifteen dollars ($15.00) when the owner or custodian arrives on the scene before such vehicle is removed and said vehicle owner or agent terminates the service.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 147 Update 3).
Full Breakdown
Under DRMC Chapter 55, Article VI, a public towing operator cannot remove a vehicle from private property without authorization from the vehicle's owner/custodian or from the property owner (who must document a good-faith effort to locate the vehicle's owner), and cannot take a vehicle out of the city without the owner's consent. Operators must report any tow to Denver Police within 30 minutes and hold a Private Towing License from the Department of Excise and Licenses. If the owner arrives before the vehicle leaves and cancels the tow, the operator may charge no more than $15.
Violations & Fines
A criminal violation under the Code's general penalty carries up to a $999 fine, up to 300 days in jail, or both (DRMC § 1-13); the Director of Excise and Licenses can also suspend or revoke the towing license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Denver tow company still charge me if I catch them before my car leaves?
Can my car be towed from a private lot in Denver without my OK?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Denver
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