Garden Grove, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- GGMC Chapter 5.52, Tow Trucks
- Owner presence
- Required at time of tow, Sec. 5.52.380(F)
- Police notice after tow
- Within 30 minutes, Sec. 5.52.380(E)
- Sign spacing
- Every 100 ft, visible 25 ft
- Violation penalty
- Misdemeanor, per-day offense
- Permit suspension
- Up to 1 year by Chief of Police
Summary
Garden Grove requires property owners to notify the Police Department before a tow service removes an illegally parked vehicle from private property, and the tow can only proceed with the property owner physically present to sign a written authorization form.
F. No vehicle shall be removed from private property, unless the person authorizing the impound is physically present and at that time, gives written authorization to the tow service. The permittee shall within one business day forward to the Police Department Traffic Division a copy of the signed authorization.
Full Breakdown
52, a tow company cannot pull a car off private property just because a landlord or HOA calls it in. 380(A) requires the property owner or person in lawful possession to notify the Police Department first, giving the name and phone number of the person authorizing the tow, the property address, the tow company's name, and the vehicle's license plate, VIN, model and color. 380(F) is the core non-consent protection: no vehicle may be removed unless the person authorizing the impound is physically present at the time and gives written authorization on a form pre-approved by the Police Department Traffic Division, listing the tow company, driver, date and time, vehicle description, reason for removal, and the property address.
The permittee must forward a signed copy to the Traffic Division within one business day. 380(E) requires the tow service to notify police within 30 minutes of towing the vehicle. 380(H) requires the tow truck driver to wait for police to arrive, with no additional charge for that wait. 380(N) bars storing the car more than a half mile outside city limits without Police Traffic Division approval. 270(A)(1) limits them to no more than the police rotation tow rates on file with the department.
Violations & Fines
Operating a towing business without a City permit, or violating any provision of Chapter 5.52, is a misdemeanor under Section 5.52.070(A), with each day of continued violation charged as a separate offense under Section 5.52.070(B). The Chief of Police can suspend a tow permit for up to a year or revoke it under Section 5.52.390(A) after investigating a written complaint, with written notice of the grounds sent by mail; the permittee has 15 business days under Section 5.52.390(B) to request a hearing under Section 5.52.420 before the action takes effect, except where immediate action is needed to protect evidence or public safety. The City Attorney can also pursue nuisance abatement against an unlawfully operated tow business under Section 5.52.070(C).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an apartment complex have my car towed without me being there?
What signs does a private lot need to tow unauthorized cars in Garden Grove?
Can I dispute a tow before my car leaves the property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Garden Grove
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