Parma, OH Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Tow call order
- Nearest listed garage called first, Section 303.11
- Insurance to join list
- $50,000 fire/theft, $100,000 liability
- Police tow fee cap
- $110 wheel-lift, $120 flatbed
- Storage fee
- $20 per day
- Tow truck ID
- Business name, address, phone required
- List removal
- 6-month bar for reporting violations
Summary
Parma keeps a rotation list of approved garages for police-ordered tows: the nearest listed garage is called first under Section 303.11, and any business that tows vehicles in the City must letter its name, address and phone number on every tow truck under Section 303.18.
303.11 PRIORITY OF GARAGES. Whenever a car is required to be towed or impounded, or both, the member of the Division of Police in charge shall phone the garage on the designated list nearest to the scene of the car. If the phone call is not answered or the garage is unable to respond to the call, then the member shall phone the next nearest garage on the designated list. ... 303.18 IDENTIFICATION ON TOW TRUCKS. (a) Any person conducting a business which operates within the City for the towing of vehicles from private or public property shall cause each vehicle employed directly in the towing of other vehicles to have affixed thereto, in a manner legible to the general public, identification of the name of the business, the address at which the business operates and the telephone number of the business. (b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-30: Local legislation current to August 3, 2026 | State legislation current to June 25, 2025).
Full Breakdown
10 lets a garage join the City's designated tow list only after satisfying the Director of Public Safety it has proper towing equipment and impound facilities, and after carrying $50,000 in fire and theft coverage plus public liability coverage of $100,000 per injured person, $300,000 per incident, and $25,000 for property damage, naming the City as co-insured; the garage owner also agrees not to exceed the fixed fee schedule and must report all impounded, unclaimed vehicles to the Chief of Police monthly. 11 requires the officer in charge to call the listed garage nearest the scene first, moving to the next-nearest garage only if that call goes unanswered or the garage can't respond.
m. m. Sundays except holidays. 12. 18(a) requires every business towing vehicles from private or public property within the City, not just listed rotation garages, to permanently and legibly identify its business name, address and phone number on each tow vehicle.
Violations & Fines
Failing to display the required business name, address and phone number on a tow truck under Section 303.18(a) is a minor misdemeanor punishable under Section 303.99(a). A rotation garage that violates the reporting duty in Section 303.16 or the towing rules in Section 335.14 loses its place on the designated garage list for six months and cannot be reinstated sooner, per Section 303.12.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Parma Police decide which garage tows a car?
What can a tow company charge for a Parma police-requested tow?
Do tow trucks operating in Parma have to be marked with the company name?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Parma
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