Fontana, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)

Sec. 29-237 lets the city council grant a non-exclusive tow truck operator franchise by resolution or ordinance, with no obligation to award any particular number of franchises. Sec. 29-241 requires the police chief to trigger a request-for-qualifications process when an existing franchise nears expiration or when a new one is needed, and the management services department selects the most qualified proposer after a police background investigation. Sec. 29-242 lists the operating conditions a franchisee must meet: a storage lot able to hold at least 250 vehicles in a proper commercial zone, enclosed by a minimum six-foot fence topped with barbed wire or equivalent security, off-street parking for at least four customer vehicles including one van-accessible handicapped space, a posted rate sign, a 24/7 on-call attendant able to respond within 30 minutes when at the top of the rotation list, at least six operable tow trucks including one medium and one heavy-duty wrecker, six qualified drivers over 18, city-issued driver permits, and a rate cap of 115 percent of the California Highway Patrol's Ontario-area towing schedule.

Franchisees pay quarterly franchise fees to the police department's traffic division under Sec. 29-243, due within two weeks after the third monthly tow report of each quarter; late payments draw a ten percent penalty plus ten percent annual interest compounded daily. 00 deposit under Sec. 29-239, and the chief of police can suspend a franchise for up to 30 days, or the council can revoke it, for uncured defaults, lapsed insurance, fraud or insolvency under Sec. 29-246.