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Miami, FL Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified May 2026

Key Facts

State statute
FL Sec. 715.07
County code
Miami-Dade Ch. 30
Police notice
30 minutes
Rate cap
County-set maximums
Owner remedy
Treble damages possible

Summary

Tow operators in Miami must comply with Florida Statute Sec. 715.07 plus Miami-Dade County Chapter 30 wrecker regulations. Maximum non-consent tow rates, signage at private lots, and 24-hour reporting to law enforcement are required, with rotation lists for police-ordered tows.

715.07 Vehicles or vessels parked on private property; towing. — ... (2) The owner or lessee of real property, or any person authorized by the owner or lessee, which person may be the designated representative of the condominium association if the real property is a condominium, may cause any vehicle or vessel parked on such property without her or his permission to be removed by a person regularly engaged in the business of towing vehicles or vessels, without liability for the costs of removal, transportation, or storage or damages caused by such removal, transportation, or storage, under any of the following circumstances: (a) The towing or removal of any vehicle or vessel from private property without the consent of the registered owner or other legally authorized person in control of that vehicle or vessel is subject to substantial compliance with the following conditions and restrictions: 1.a. Any towed or removed vehicle or vessel must be stored at a site within a 10-mile radius of the point of removal in any county of 500,000 population or more, and within a 15-mile radius of the point of removal in any county of fewer than 500,000 population. That site must be open for the purpose of redemption of vehicles on any day that the person or firm towing such vehicle or vessel is open for towing purposes, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and, when closed, shall have prominently posted a sign indicating a telephone number where the operator of the site can be reached at all times. ... 2. The person or firm towing or removing the vehicle or vessel shall, within 30 minutes after completion of such towing or removal, notify the municipal police department or, in an unincorporated area, the sheriff, of such towing or removal... (b) These requirements are minimum standards and do not preclude enactment of additional regulations by any municipality or county including the right to regulate rates when vehicles or vessels are towed from private property.

Source: FL Statute Sec. 715.07View official code

Full Breakdown

Non-consent towing from private property in Florida is governed by Sec. 715.07, which sets uniform signage, hold-back, and notification rules. Tow operators must post conspicuous signage at the property entrance, photograph the vehicle, accept cash or credit, and notify the local law-enforcement agency within 30 minutes. Miami-Dade County Chapter 30 (Wrecker Operating Service) sets maximum non-consent tow rates, requires county wrecker permits, and runs the rotation list for police-ordered tows. The City of Miami additionally requires a Business Tax Receipt, certificate of use, and zoning compliance. Storage rates and access-during-business-hours rules also apply.

Violations & Fines

Towing without proper signage, exceeding posted maximum rates, or failing to notify police within 30 minutes voids the tow lien. The vehicle owner may recover the vehicle without paying and sue for treble damages plus attorney fees under Sec. 715.07(5).

Frequently Asked Questions

What if a Miami tow company overcharged me?
File a complaint with Miami-Dade County Consumer Protection. If posted signage was missing or rates exceed the county maximum, you may recover the vehicle and sue under FL Sec. 715.07 for treble damages and attorney fees.
Must a Miami tow company notify police?
Yes. Under Sec. 715.07(2)(a)(2), the wrecker must notify the appropriate law-enforcement agency within 30 minutes of completing the tow. Failure voids the lien and exposes the operator to civil damages.

Sources & Official References

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