Fort Myers, FL Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Vehicle registration fee
- $20.00 per vehicle, annual
- Wrecker operator permit fee
- $25.00, annual
- Sign review/inspection fee
- $50.00 one-time
- Max fine per violation
- $500.00
Summary
Fort Myers requires wrecker operators to register vehicles and hold a police-issued permit before towing cars from private lots without the owner's consent.
It shall be unlawful for any person, either as principal, agent, or employee, to perform any nonconsensual towing without having first registered the towing service vehicles to be used for nonconsensual towing with the police department, using a format approved by the police department. The information for registration shall contain the make, model and manufacturer's serial number of the vehicle; date the vehicle was put into service; the driver's license number of the owner and the name of the insurance company or companies with which the owner and operators have liability insurance for the operation of the vehicle as required by law; and the name and driver's license number of all employees involved in the towing of vehicles as defined in this article. The registration fee shall be $20.00 per vehicle. Each registration shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance.
(Ord. No. 3527, § 2, 10-19-2009; Ord. No. 3560, § 2, 7-19-2010)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 60).
Full Breakdown
Under the city's private-property towing article, no one may perform nonconsensual towing without first registering the tow vehicle with the police department, and no wrecker operator may work a nonconsensual tow without a separate police-issued wrecker operator permit. Registration costs $20 per vehicle and runs one year; the operator permit costs $25, requires a clean criminal and driving history check, and must be displayed on the driver's person or the wrecker's dashboard during every nonconsensual tow. Lots must also post reflective tow-away signage approved by code enforcement, and drivers must photograph the offending vehicle before hooking it up.
Violations & Fines
Unregistered or unpermitted nonconsensual towing, missing or non-approved signage, or overcharging are civil citation offenses; convicted violators face up to $500 per violation, plus liability to the vehicle owner for recovery costs, attorney's fees and damages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Fort Myers tow company boot or tow my car from a private lot without asking me first?
What must a Fort Myers tow company show me before I pay?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Myers
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Fort Myers to another location·View the Florida business licensing & operations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Towing Companies in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Lee County handle towing companies.