Lafayette Parish, LA Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- City of Lafayette + unincorporated parish
- Report deadline
- 24 hours after tow
- Fee cap
- Set by LA Public Service Commission
- Registration
- Required with each law enforcement agency
- Dispute window
- 15 days to challenge fees
Summary
Wrecker operators must register with local police, tow private-property vehicles to a licensed storage lot, and report each tow to law enforcement within 24 hours; towing and storage fees are capped at Louisiana Public Service Commission rates.
Every wrecker operator performing a private property tow shall notify the appropriate law enforcement agency and provide them with a description of the vehicle, the vehicle license number and the time of the tow, within 24 hours after the arrival of the vehicle at the wrecker operator's approved storage facility.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65).
Full Breakdown
Lafayette City-Parish's towing and wrecker ordinance (Ch. 98, Art. III) applies in both the City of Lafayette and the unincorporated parish, not in Broussard, Carencro, Duson, Scott, Youngsville, or Milton. Operators must register with each law enforcement agency, carry required insurance, and store towed vehicles only in a parish storage lot. Private-property tows must be reported to police within 24 hours, and towing/storage charges cannot exceed the highest rate set by the Louisiana Public Service Commission. Vehicle owners who believe they were overcharged can challenge fees before the city-parish parking adjudication bureau within 15 days.
Violations & Fines
Charging excess fees is a civil violation carrying up to a $500 fine and possible suspension from law-enforcement rotation lists; other article violations are misdemeanors punishable by up to $500 and six months in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule cover Broussard or Youngsville tows?
How much can a tow company charge for a private-property tow?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lafayette Parish
Compare Lafayette Parish to another location·View the Louisiana business licensing & operations overview
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