Putnam County, FL Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Jurisdiction
- Unincorporated Putnam County only
- Sheriff notice after trespass tow
- Within 30 minutes
- Max civil penalty for hindering article
- $500.00
- Refusing a citation
- Second-degree misdemeanor
- Enforcing agency
- Putnam County Sheriff's Office
Summary
In unincorporated Putnam County, a wrecker company may not tow a vehicle from private property without the owner's consent except under the state's trespass-towing law, must notify the Sheriff's Office within 30 minutes of completing any trespass tow, and cannot charge or continue a tow once the vehicle's owner arrives at the scene and refuses to leave it, under Putnam County Code sections 10-179, 10-182 and 10-191.
Sec. 10-179. - Definitions. ... Trespass towing means towing or removal of a vehicle, without the consent of the vehicle's owner or operator ... when that vehicle is parked on private real property. ... ... Sec. 10-180. - Enforcement. (a) ... Violation of any provision of this article is a civil infraction with a maximum civil penalty of $500.00. ... (d)Any person who willfully refuses to sign and accept a citation shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in F.S. § 775.082 or F.S. § 775.083. ... ... Sec. 10-182. - Jurisdiction. This article shall be applicable only in the unincorporated areas of the county. ... ... Sec. 10-191. - Trespass towing. ... (b)Any wrecker initiating a trespass tow shall notify the county sheriff's office within 30 minutes of the completion of any such trespass tow. ... (c)No wrecker shall tow a vehicle or charge for its services where the registered owner or other legally authorized person in control of the vehicle arrives at the scene prior to the towing, unless:(1)The registered owner or other legally authorized person in control of the vehicle refuses to remove the vehicle.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 10, Article III of the Putnam County Code governs wreckers operating from unincorporated Putnam County; Section 10-182 limits its reach to the unincorporated area, leaving Palatka, Crescent City, Interlachen, Pomona Park and Welaka to set their own towing rules within their limits. Section 10-179 defines trespass towing as removal of a vehicle from private property without the owner's consent, as authorized by F.S. section 715.07, and distinguishes it from nonconsensual towing, which covers removal from an accident scene or when an owner is unavailable or incapacitated.
Section 10-183 requires every for-hire tow originating in the county to comply with Florida Statutes chapters 713 and 715 in addition to this article. Wreckers must carry specified recovery equipment, may not cruise county streets soliciting business under Section 10-185, and may not pay property owners for the privilege of towing from their lots under Section 10-186. Maximum rates for towing and storage are fixed by resolution of the Board of County Commissioners under Section 10-187 rather than set in the code itself, and wreckers must carry garage keeper's and garage liability insurance under Section 10-188.
Section 10-191 requires the wrecker to notify the Sheriff's Office within 30 minutes of completing any trespass tow, detailing the storage site, the vehicle description and who requested the tow, and bars charging the vehicle's owner if they arrive at the scene before the tow is complete and have not refused to move the vehicle. Consumer complaints about excessive charges go to the Sheriff's Office under Section 10-190.
Violations & Fines
Hindering enforcement of the wrecker article is a civil infraction carrying a maximum $500.00 civil penalty under Section 10-180, with citations issued by the sheriff, a deputy or a code enforcement officer, and a person who willfully refuses to sign a citation commits a second-degree misdemeanor under F.S. sections 775.082 and 775.083. Contested citations go before the county judge, who may impose costs in addition to the fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Putnam County wrecker tow my car from a private lot without asking me?
Do Putnam County's towing rules apply inside Palatka or Crescent City?
Who sets Putnam County's maximum towing and storage rates?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Putnam County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Putnam County to another location·View the Florida business licensing & operations overview
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