Jupiter, FL Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Storage fee starts
- After 6 hours in impound
- Admin/lien fee starts
- After 24 hours
- Max fine
- $500 per violation, per day
- No-charge rule
- Owner arrives before hookup
- Records retention
- 3 years under § 19-142
Summary
Jupiter Town Code § 19-143 caps what tow truck companies can charge for non-consent tows and impounds, covering the first 30 minutes, per-mile mileage, storage, and lien fees, and bars any fee outside the council-set schedule; § 19-144 backs the caps with fines up to $500 per day.
(a)The council hereby establishes the following maximum rates for non-consent towing services:(1)Towing service per call, which shall include the first 30 minutes that the towing vehicle is actually on the scene engaged in the safe removal of a vehicle.(2)Mileage (per towed mile) according to F.S. § 715.07. ... (c)Persons who provide services pursuant to this section shall not charge in excess of the maximum allowable rates established by the council. No person providing services pursuant to this section shall charge any type of fee other than the fees for which the council has established specific rates. ... (b)The town is authorized to enforce the provisions of this division via the citation system established in chapter 8 of this Code, not to exceed $500.00 for each violation. Any person who has violated any provision of this division may be fined an amount as established by the town. Each day of a continuing violation shall be deemed a separate violation.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 19, division 4 of the town code regulates tow truck companies operating within Jupiter. 07, storage that can only be billed after six hours in the impound lot and only once the police department has authorized the impound or been notified of a private-property impound, and an administrative or lien fee that similarly cannot be charged until the vehicle has been held for at least 24 hours. Subsection (c) prohibits a tow company from charging more than these council-set maximum rates or charging any fee for which the council has not established a specific rate.
Subsection (d) bars charging any fee at all if the vehicle's owner arrives before towing begins, unless the vehicle is already mechanically hooked up, in which case the company may collect no more than half the posted towing rate. 78 on the same sign as the rate schedule. Section 19-144 makes the town's department the enforcing agency and authorizes citations of up to $500 for each violation, with each day of a continuing violation counted as a separate offense; unpaid fines route through the county court, and repeat offenders can face a mandatory court appearance after a third citation.
Violations & Fines
A tow truck company that overcharges, charges an unauthorized fee, or fails to follow the required documentation and notice rules is subject to a citation of up to $500 per violation under section 19-144, with each day of a continuing violation treated as a separate offense. Refusing to sign a citation is a second-degree misdemeanor, and a third citation can trigger a mandatory county court appearance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Jupiter tow company charge me if I show up before my car is hooked up?
How soon can storage fees start after a non-consent tow?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jupiter
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