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

Sec. 58-671 states the article's purpose: securing the best possible tow truck service for the city. Sec. 58-672 lets the city council grant a nonexclusive towing franchise under Charter Article XIII and this article, entirely at its discretion, and Sec. 58-673 makes clear the council need not grant any set number of franchises, or any franchise at all, if it decides doing so is not in the city's or public's best interest. Franchise terms run for a period the council sets in the granting ordinance and franchise agreement, subject to Charter Sections 1301 through 1303, and the council may attach additional conditions it finds in the public interest.

A franchisee cannot sell, transfer, lease, assign, sublet or mortgage the franchise, in whole or part, without the city council's prior written consent, and any transfer must involve the franchisee giving up all ownership rights in the towing business; a written request, a nonrefundable deposit set by council resolution, and the proposed sale agreement must reach the department of finance at least 120 calendar days before the requested transfer date, after which finance and police jointly investigate the proposed transferee's qualifications (Sec. 58-674). New or additional franchisees are selected under Sec. 58-675: if increased call volume or an expiring franchise creates a need, the chief of police first asks existing franchisees to expand capacity, and if they cannot or will not, the department of finance issues a public request for qualifications, investigates the top candidate's background, and the chief recommends an award to the city council. Franchise extensions must be negotiated at least 120 calendar days before expiration, and an unrenewed franchise simply expires, triggering a new request-for-qualifications process.