Harrisburg, PA Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)

Chapter 3-135 of the Harrisburg Codified Ordinances regulates removal and impounding of motor vehicles. Under § 3-135.2B, the Bureau of Police can remove and impound any vehicle parked on a street, public property or private property in violation of a City ordinance or the Vehicle Code. Under § 3-135.2C it can also have a salvor remove a vehicle that is obstructing traffic, reportedly stolen, parked on private property without the owner's permission (where the property is posted as 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3353(b) requires), or parked so as to impede fire-fighting equipment, snow removal equipment or other emergency equipment. No vehicle can be removed if the owner or person in charge is present, willing and physically able to remove it immediately, and pays the charge (§ 3-135.4C).

The fee schedule is in § 3-135.7B and is quoted above: $65 routine, $45 per hour for winching, $75 rollback, $60 when the tow occurs during a state of emergency declared by the Mayor, $35 if the owner reclaims the vehicle after the salvor arrives but before it is towed, and $35 for each day or part of a day of storage. Notice of removal goes from the Bureau of Police to the owner of record within 12 hours (§ 3-135.5B), and vehicles go only to approved storage garages designated by the Mayor or Chief of Police (§ 3-135.4A).

Section 3-135.8 sets wrecker conduct rules. It is unlawful to send a wrecker to an accident or disabled vehicle based on information from Police Bureau shortwave radio transmissions, to keep a radio tuned to that band, to solicit patronage at the scene of an accident or within one hour afterward, or to drive along a street or bridge soliciting towing work. A wrecker must be requested by the owner or person in charge, after the operator obtains that person's name and residence address. These limits do not apply to a wrecker service under written contract with the City at the request of the Police Bureau.

Vendors retained by the City must meet § 3-135.1, amended 6-10-2025 by Ord. No. 6-2025: a licensed salvor as defined in § 102 of the Vehicle Code, required bonds and insurance, City licenses and permits, no subcontracting of any part of the work, and a secured area where police can fingerprint towed vehicles.