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

Chapter 388, Towers and Wreckers, was adopted July 27, 1998 by Ord. No. 20-98 and amended in its entirety February 27, 2025 by Ord. No. 06-25. The Chief of Police maintains two authorized towing lists under § 388-2, capped at six operators for light-duty vehicles and two for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, plus a waiting list keyed to each applicant's filing date. Getting on either list, or operating a wrecker in the Township at all, requires an annual, nontransferable license from the Chief of Police under § 388-10B, priced at $1,000 for light-duty service and $1,500 for combined light- and heavy-duty service, running July 1 to June 30 under § 388-10A.

Before licensing, § 388-3D requires a criminal history check on every operator, agent, officer and director, barring anyone with an indictable conviction within five years, certain theft or fraud convictions within 10 years, or any Megan's Law registration requirement, and § 388-3E requires proof of workers' compensation, $1,000,000 garage-keeper's and per-accident liability coverage, theft, on-hook and cargo insurance, with any lapse triggering immediate suspension. Section 388-3I requires fenced, secure storage for at least 20 vehicles, and § 388-10C mandates a pre-license inspection followed by reinspection every three years.

Licensees must answer Police Department calls within 20 minutes between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., or 30 minutes overnight, under § 388-12A. Violations follow a graduated warning-and-suspension schedule under § 388-11B, and § 388-15 separately punishes any violation of the chapter with a fine of up to $1,000 per offense, up to 90 days in the Ocean County Jail, or both, with each day of a continuing violation a separate offense.