Penn Hills, PA Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Bond required
- $10,000 per contractor
- Authorization needed
- Police Department sign-off
- Who selects towers
- Council, via Manager's proposals
- Rate setting
- Council resolution, posted publicly
- Zones
- Municipality divided into towing zones
Summary
Penn Hills only dispatches private tow companies under Council contract, and each contractor must post a $10,000 bond guaranteeing faithful performance before hauling illegally parked, wrecked, abandoned, or police-seized vehicles within Municipal limits.
As a supplement to towing by Municipality-operated towing equipment, the Manager is hereby authorized and directed to request information and seek proposals from private towers so that Council may enter into contracts with one or more reputable private towers to tow to designated pounds vehicles illegally parked, wrecked, abandoned or seized within the limits of the Municipality when such towing services are authorized by the Department of Police. The contractor shall give bond in the sum of $10,000 to insure the faithful and careful performance of such contracts.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4434863; v5 updated 2025-07-21; through 07-21-2025).
Full Breakdown
Under § 432.07 of the Municipality of Penn Hills Code, the Manager solicits proposals from private towing companies so Council can contract with one or more of them to supplement Municipality-operated towing equipment. A contracted private tower may only remove vehicles that are illegally parked, wrecked, abandoned, or seized within Penn Hills when the Police Department authorizes the tow, and the contractor must post a $10,000 bond to guarantee faithful and careful performance. The Municipality is divided into towing zones under § 432.08, with rates set by Council resolution based on contractor bids, and current rates must be posted at all pounds, the Manager's office, and the Police Department.
Violations & Fines
The chapter sets no separate fine; towing outside an authorized Council contract or without Police authorization falls under the general Traffic Code penalty at § 404.99.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any tow company perform non-consent tows in Penn Hills?
Who sets towing rates for Penn Hills contractors?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Penn Hills
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