Howell, NJ Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)

Chapter 306 of the Howell Township Code defines a NONCONSENT TOW in § 306-1 as a tow where the Howell Township Police Department contacts the towing agency to remove or impound a vehicle at the Department's request. A consent tow is one requested by anyone else, such as the vehicle owner or the owner of private property. Under § 306-2 the chapter applies to Howell Township and Borough of Farmingdale operators seeking to be enrolled on the rotating call list.

Permits and calls: § 306-3 requires a permit from the Chief of Police for each tow truck that will respond to Police Department calls. Section 306-17 directs the Chief to run a rotating call list that gives every permittee a fair opportunity. Operators must dispatch immediately and arrive within 20 minutes of notification, and cannot go to a scene until the Police Department requests them. The Department keeps the right to call another operator for special equipment, including serious or fatal crash investigations, stolen vehicles and hazardous loads. If an owner declines the rotation tow, the owner can request another service that can respond within 20 minutes or another reasonable time.

Storage and release: under § 306-13 a storage facility must be open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and at least 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Saturday or Sunday, and is closed on legal federal holidays. Each yard needs a certificate of commercial occupancy and a six-foot chain-link fence with slat inserts and a locked gate. Towing and storage rates are not printed in Chapter 306; § 306-14 sends involuntary tows to Chapter 139, Fees, Article XXXIII. A vehicle impounded by Howell Police cannot be released without written consent from the Police Department (§ 306-16(C)), and each permittee reports vehicles held 30 days or more to the Police Department monthly (§ 306-19).