Kansas City, MO Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Sign posted before tow
- at least 24 hours
- Minimum sign size
- 17 by 22 inches
- Fees
- capped at city tow rate
- Drop fee if owner present
- up to half towing fee
- Immobilization ('boot') removal fee cap
- $75.00
Summary
Kansas City tow companies can't remove a vehicle from private property without a sign posted at every entrance for at least 24 hours first, and can't charge more than the city's own capped towing, storage and retrieval fees.
It shall be unlawful for any tow service business or tow vehicle operator to tow a motor vehicle unless the area in which the vehicle is parked has been posted by a sign, in plain view, at each entrance and exit that has been permanently installed for a minimum of 24 hours prior to any vehicle being removed. The legible sign shall be a minimum of 17 inches by 22 inches in size with lettering not less than one inch in height and posted so that the bottom of the sign is at least 36 inches, but no more than 72 inches off the ground...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 139 | Zoning and Development Code: Supplement 38).
Full Breakdown
Non-consent tows from private lots are governed by Code of Ordinances Division 5, "Nonconsent Tow and Booting" (§§ 76-421–76-434). A tow service must post a legible sign at least 17 by 22 inches, in one-inch lettering, at every entrance and exit for a minimum of 24 hours before any vehicle is towed, listing a 24-hour phone number and the maximum fees charged. Towing, storage and retrieval fees can't exceed the city's own tow-and-storage rate, set annually by the neighborhood services director. If the owner shows up while the vehicle is hooked up but not yet off the ground, the operator must release it for a "drop fee" capped at half the towing charge. Operators must also notify Kansas City police before most private-property tows and keep towing logs for three years.
Violations & Fines
Towing without the required 24-hour signage, charging above the capped fee, or towing private property without the lot owner's or manager's written authorization is an ordinance violation, enforced by the Neighborhood Services Department.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a private lot tow my car with no warning sign?
Is there a cap on what a Kansas City tow company can charge?
What if I reach my car just as the tow truck arrives?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kansas City
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