Glendale, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Prohibition
- No non-consensual towing without a city tow contract
- Governing section
- Sec. 10.55.040, Chapter 10.55
- Districts
- 3 exclusive police tow service districts
- Selection
- Competitive RFP run by chief of police
- Fee
- VTACR administrative cost recovery fee, Sec. 10.55.090
- Penalty
- Infraction, up to $500 per violation
Summary
Glendale bans any towing company from performing non-consensual vehicle towing unless it holds a city contract as an official police tow services provider. Glendale Municipal Code Sec. 10.55.040 closes the market to walk-in wrecker operators: every police-ordered tow, accident tow, or impound in the city must go through one of three district-based contractors selected by the police department.
"Non-consensual vehicle towing" means towing service: 1. Ordered or requested by the city's police department, park rangers or other city employees who are duly authorized by law to remove, impound or store vehicles; or 2. Done without the vehicle owner's or operator's knowledge, consent or authorization, regardless of whether the vehicle is on public or private property... Sec. 10.55.040. Police towing without city contract—Prohibited. No person shall perform or provide non-consensual vehicle towing in the city, unless the person is an official police tow services provider.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4983441; v20 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
55 defines 'non-consensual vehicle towing' as any tow ordered by the police department, park rangers or other authorized city employees, or any tow performed without the vehicle owner's or operator's knowledge or consent, whether the vehicle sits on public or private property, including when a driver is arrested, incapacitated, or simply fails to name a preferred tow company. 040 makes it unlawful for anyone besides an 'official police tow services provider' to perform that kind of towing anywhere in the city. The city council divides Glendale into three towing 'Districts' and awards one contract per district through a competitive process run by the chief of police, who drafts the request for proposals and evaluation criteria; the council can enlarge, redraw or add districts after 30 days' written notice to the incumbent provider.
Contractors pay a vehicle towing administrative cost recovery (VTACR) fee under Sec. 090 to cover the police department's costs of monitoring compliance, tracking rates and resolving customer complaints, and an unpaid VTACR fee becomes a civil debt collectible by the city under Sec. 160. The scheme rests on Vehicle Code Sec. 12110(b), which lets a city charge for the exclusive privilege of towing on its behalf.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 10.55 does not set its own fine, so the citywide Title 10 default in Sec. 1.20.010(C) applies: performing non-consensual towing without a police contract is an infraction, punished by whatever bail or fine schedule the city council adopts by resolution, capped at $500 per violation. The city can also pursue the VTACR fee as a civil debt in court and can decline to renew a district contract for a provider found towing outside its authorized district.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I call my own tow truck after a Glendale police-ordered tow?
How many towing companies hold Glendale's police contract?
What happens if a contracted tow company skips its VTACR fee?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Glendale
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