Olympia, WA Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)

Chapter 5.72 of the Olympia Municipal Code, Towing Services, regulates wrecker and towing operators in the City of Olympia, Thurston County, Washington. Section 5.72.010 defines an operator as any person who engages in the impounding, transporting or storage of unauthorized vehicles or the disposal of abandoned vehicles. It then defines an unauthorized vehicle through a table of how long a vehicle sits unattended before it is subject to removal. On public property, a vehicle that is an accident or traffic hazard as defined in RCW 46.55.113 is subject to removal immediately, a vehicle on a highway and tagged as described in RCW 46.55.085 after 24 hours, and a vehicle in a properly posted publicly owned parking facility immediately. On private property, residential property is immediate, properly posted private nonresidential property is immediate, and unposted private nonresidential property is 24 hours.

Section 5.72.020 sets two requirements. Every operator needs a business license under OMC 5.02, with the chapter's additional licensing or permitting requirements applying too. Any tow company operating a tow truck within Olympia city limits to provide towing services also needs a current registration certificate required by RCW 46.55.020. Section 5.72.002 applies the Chapter 5.04 business and occupations tax and 5.72.001 applies the Chapter 5.05 administrative provisions.

Conduct rules follow. Section 5.72.090 makes it unlawful to go to a vehicular accident unless called by the owner of a disabled vehicle, the owner's authorized representative or a police officer, and an operator called by anyone other than police must notify the Police Department as soon as reasonably practical. Section 5.72.100 bars intercepting or monitoring police calls by shortwave radio or otherwise to reach a disabled vehicle, and 5.72.110 bars offering, paying, accepting or receiving a gratuity or reward for information on where a disabled vehicle sits.

License renewal is conditional under 5.72.120: no license obtained by fraud or an undisclosed material fact, no gratuity paid to anyone who is not a bona fide employee, no violation of 5.72.070 or the rules under 5.72.080, and no City employee holding any interest in the business. Under 5.72.125, a complaint leads to written notice to the licensee naming the vehicle license number, the nature of the complaint and the date conveyed. A vehicle defect complaint requires the licensee to present the vehicle to the Olympia chief of police or designee within five days of receipt of the notice or face revocation proceedings.