Lake County, FL Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Class A base rate, public property
- $200.00
- Class A base rate, private property
- $150.00
- Rotator/50-ton rate
- $1,546.00/hr, 2-hr minimum
- Storage grace period
- 6 hours before fees start
- Innocent-owner cap
- $75.00 for first 72 hours
- Overcharge complaints
- Filed with County Manager (Sec. 15-7(i))
Summary
Lake County Code Sec. 15-7 caps what a wrecker company can charge for a nonconsensual tow in the unincorporated county, from a $150.00 base rate for a car towed off private property to $1,546.00 an hour for a rotator recovery. Charging above the cap is a code violation, and overcharges go to the county manager.
(a)The maximum rates are to be charged for nonconsensual towing on public property when the point of origin of the tow is within the unincorporated areas of Lake County, shall be assessed by vehicle type as follows. For purposes of this section, nonconsensual towing on public property is the towing of vehicles from or immobilization of vehicles on public property, removal and storage of wrecked or disabled vehicles from an accident scene, and removal and storage of vehicles which is arranged by a law enforcement officer at the scene and by a governmental authority.(1)Class A Vehicles (gross vehicle weight through ten thousand (10,000) pounds or vehicle carrying a vessel fifteen (15) feet or less in height):Base Rate $200.00 ... (g)It shall be unlawful and a violation of this ordinance for any operator, individual, company, or entity to impose rates or fees in excess of the maximum allowable rates established under this section.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 150).
Full Breakdown
Lake County Code Sec. 15-7 sets maximum rates for 'nonconsensual towing,' defined as towing a vehicle from public or private property in the unincorporated county without the owner's consent, whether ordered by a law enforcement officer at an accident scene or a private property owner. Rates are split by vehicle class and by whether the tow originates from public or private property. 00 (private) per day. 00 per hour with a two-hour minimum. 78, Florida Statutes. 00 for the first 72 hours. Sec. 15-7(g) makes it 'unlawful and a violation of this ordinance' for any towing operator to charge above these caps, and Sec.
0103(d), Florida Statutes, lets anyone report an overcharge to the county manager, who investigates and can refer a confirmed violation to the Lake County Code Enforcement Special Master under the Chapter 8 hearing procedures.
Violations & Fines
Charging above the Sec. 15-7 rate schedule is 'unlawful and a violation of this ordinance' for the towing operator, not the vehicle owner. A driver or owner can report an overcharge to the county manager under Sec. 15-7(i); if the county manager's investigation confirms a violation, the case goes to the Lake County Code Enforcement Special Master for a hearing and order under the Chapter 8 procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can a tow company charge to tow my car from a Lake County parking lot?
Can a towing company charge me right away for storage?
What if my car was stolen and towed after someone else's crime?
What happens if a tow company overcharges me in Lake County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lake County
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