Santa Clara County, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Buffer distance
- 1,000 feet
- Covers
- Paid and free tow solicitation
- Duration
- Incident through reasonable time after
Summary
Tow operators in unincorporated Santa Clara County cannot solicit business at accident scenes or park tow vehicles within 1,000 feet of one.
No person shall at the location of any vehicular accident, collision or other catastrophe or calamity, solicit or offer the sale of any towing service, or solicit or offer without charge any towing service, or solicit or offer without charge any other service.
(Code 1954, § 10.6.3-1; Ord. No. NS-1009.1, § 1, 6-23-58)
Sec. B12-243. - Parking near scene of accident. No vehicles equipped or designed for use as a tow vehicle shall be parked within 1,000 feet from the location of any vehicular accident, collision or other catastrophe or calamity.
(Code 1954, § 10.6.3-2; Ord. No. NS-1009.1, § 1, 6-23-58)
Sec. B12-244. - Time limit. The prohibitions contained in this chapter shall apply from the time of the happening of any of the occurrences enumerated in this chapter until a reasonable time thereafter and at all times while law enforcement officers, public health personnel, ambulance service personnel and personnel discharging duties imposed by law are engaged in the performance of their duty at the location of said occurrences.
(Code 1954, § 10.6.3-3; Ord. No. NS-1009.1, § 1, 6-23-58)
Secs. B12-245—B12-249. - Reserved.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65).
Full Breakdown
Unincorporated Santa Clara County's towing chapter bars a specific abusive practice rather than licensing tow companies outright: no one may solicit or offer towing service, paid or free, at the location of a vehicular accident, collision, or other catastrophe. Tow vehicles also cannot park within 1,000 feet of such a scene. Both prohibitions run from the time of the incident until a reasonable time after, and throughout the period responders are working the scene.
Violations & Fines
Soliciting towing business at an accident scene or staging a tow vehicle within 1,000 feet of one violates the county's towing-service chapter and is enforceable as a county ordinance infraction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a tow truck wait near a crash to offer service?
Does this license towing companies countywide?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Clara County
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Clara County to another location·View the California business licensing & operations overview
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