Detroit, MI Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Police approval
- Required before hook-up
- Owner authorization
- Required for private-property tows
- Storage yard license
- Required from BSEED
- Documentation deadline
- Delivered to police within 2 hours
- Penalty
- Up to $500 fine, 90 days jail
Summary
Private-property tow companies in Detroit need the owner's authorization and Police Department approval before hooking up a vehicle, and storage yards must hold a City business license.
(1)Tow companies shall not tow any vehicle from private property except by request of the property owner or other individual authorized to request such tow;(2)Tow companies must notify and obtain Police Department approval, prior to the hook-up of a vehicle in conjunction with any private property impound;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
Detroit City Code § 46-2-111 bars tow companies from removing a vehicle off private property unless the property owner or an authorized agent requests the tow, and requires the tower to notify police and get Department approval before hook-up. Towers must log each approval with photos, the police badge number, and the vehicle's condition, and deliver that documentation to a police facility within two hours. Separately, § 46-2-141 requires any towing service storage yard to hold a license from the Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department before operating in the City.
Violations & Fines
Violating any provision is a misdemeanor under § 46-2-82, with fines up to $500 and up to 90 days in jail per offense, and each day of continued violation counts separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Detroit tow company remove my car from a private lot without asking?
Does a Detroit towing business need a city license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Detroit
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Towing Companies in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wayne County handle towing companies.