Pharr, TX Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- City registration fee
- $15 initial, $25/year
- Applies to
- Nonconsent tows only
- Also requires
- TX Occupations Code Ch. 2308 registration
- Enforced by
- Pharr Police Department
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine, Class C misdemeanor
Summary
Pharr requires every auto wrecker performing nonconsent tows to hold both a Texas Occupations Code Chapter 2308 tow truck registration and a separate Pharr Police Department registration, with a $15 application fee and annual $25 renewal.
Any auto wrecker that is used to perform any nonconsent tow shall be registered as a tow truck under applicable provisions of state law, including, without limitation, Chapter 2308 of the Texas Occupations Code. ... Any auto wrecker that is used to perform any nonconsent tow on private property in the city must be registered with the police department, regardless of whether the owner of the auto wrecker has a place of business in the city.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 44).
Full Breakdown
Beyond state licensing, Pharr's Chapter 138 wrecker ordinance layers on local requirements: any wrecker used for a nonconsent tow on private property must carry a city-issued police department registration, regardless of whether the company is based in Pharr. Applicants pay a $15 fee, submit proof of insurance meeting Texas Administrative Code standards, and pass a police inspection covering chassis rating, tow lights, and mud flaps. Registration renews annually for $25. Separately, any wrecker company wanting a certificate of occupancy or a spot on the city's rotation list pays a $300 initial fee plus $100 annual renewal, plus per-wrecker inspection fees.
Violations & Fines
Operating a wrecker for nonconsent tows without city registration is a Class C misdemeanor carrying a $100-$1,000 fine per violation, plus removal from the police rotation list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Texas state law preempt Pharr's towing rules?
How much does Pharr's wrecker registration cost?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pharr
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