Ontario, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)

Chapter 19 of Title 4 of the Ontario Municipal Code governs non-consensual towing, meaning vehicles towed after accidents, illegal parking on public property, or a police order (Sec. 01(e)). Sec. 11 bars anyone from providing towing services to the City or its Police Department without first obtaining a City business license, complying with the chapter, and signing a towing services agreement. The City Council grants non-exclusive permits by resolution (Sec. 03), and applicants go through a Chief of Police background investigation and Purchasing Division qualifications review before the Council decides (Sec.

05). Approved carriers rotate through an on-call list the Chief of Police manages; a carrier that refuses or fails to respond is passed over for the next one on the list (Sec. 10). Storage lots must sit within Ontario city limits (or within 5 miles with approval), hold at least 150 vehicles, and be enclosed by a wall or fence at least 6 feet high, with off-street parking including a van-accessible handicapped space (Sec. 06). Carriers pay the City a per-vehicle administrative fee monthly by the 15th of the following month, keep towing records for 3 years, and face a City audit; an underpayment over 2% costs the carrier the audit fee plus a 50% penalty on the error, with 10% annual interest compounding daily (Sec.

14). Permits and agreements can be suspended up to 30 days at a time (Chief of Police, up to 3 times per year) or revoked by the City Council or City Manager for default, lapsed insurance, fraud, or insolvency, following written notice, a cure period, and a hearing before the City Manager with appeal rights to the City Council (Sec. 15).